Psalms 119

119 ¹ Blessing dey for those wey dia way no get blame, wey dey waka for our Papa im instruction.

Aleph: Blessing Dey For Those Wey No Get Blame

² Blessing dey for those wey dey keep im testimony, wey dey find am with dia whole heart. ³ Dem no dey do wrong; dem dey waka for im ways. ⁴ You don command say make dem keep your precepts well-well. ⁵ Ah, if only my ways go stand strong to dey keep your statutes! ⁶ Den shame no go catch me when I dey look all your commandments. ⁷ I go praise you with correct heart when I learn your righteous judgment dem. ⁸ I go keep your statutes; no throway me comot patapata.

⁹ How young man fit keep im way clean? Na by minding am according to your word. ¹⁰ With my whole heart I dey find you; no let me wander comot from your commandments. ¹¹ I don keep your word like treasure for my heart, so dat I no go sin against you. ¹² Blessing dey for you, my Papa; teach me your statutes. ¹³ With my mouth I dey talk all di judgment wey comot from your mouth. ¹⁴ For di way of your testimony dem I dey rejoice, as much as person go rejoice for all riches. ¹⁵ I go meditate for your precepts and fix my eye for your ways. ¹⁶ I dey find joy for your statutes; I no go forget your word.

¹⁷ Do good give your servant, so dat I go live and keep your word. ¹⁸ Open my eye, so dat I go fit see wonderful tins from your instruction. ¹⁹ I be stranger for dis earth; no hide your commandments from me. ²⁰ My soul dey melt with hunger for your judgment dem all di time. ²¹ You dey rebuke di proud, dem wey curse dey follow, wey dey wander comot from your commandments. ²² Take scorn and disgrace comot from me, because I dey keep your testimony dem. ²³ Even if princes sidon dey talk against me, your servant dey meditate for your statutes. ²⁴ Your testimony dem na my joy; dem be my counselors.

²⁵ My soul dey stick for di dust; give me life back according to your word. ²⁶ I tell you my ways, and you answer me; teach me your statutes. ²⁷ Make me understand di way of your precepts, and I go meditate for your wonderful works. ²⁸ My soul dey melt for sorrow; make me strong according to your word. ²⁹ Keep me comot from di way of lie, and by your grace give me your instruction. ³⁰ I don choose di way of faithfulness; I don put your judgment dem before me. ³¹ I dey stick for your testimony dem, my Papa; no make shame catch me. ³² I go run for di way of your commandments, because you dey open my heart wide.

³³ Teach me, my Papa, di way of your statutes, and I go keep am reach di end. ³⁴ Give me understanding, so dat I go keep your instruction and obey am with my whole heart. ³⁵ Lead me for di path of your commandments, because na dia I dey find joy. ³⁶ Turn my heart to your testimony dem, and not to greedy gain. ³⁷ Turn my eye comot from looking useless tins; give me life back for your ways. ³⁸ Confirm to your servant your promise, di promise wey be for those wey dey fear you. ³⁹ Turn away di disgrace wey I dey fear, because your judgment dem good. ⁴⁰ I dey hunger for your precepts; for your correct-and-holy way give me life.

⁴¹ Make your Covenant love come to me, my Papa, your salvation according to your promise. ⁴² Den I go get answer for di person wey dey mock me, because I dey trust your word. ⁴³ And no take di word of truth comot patapata from my mouth, because my hope dey for your judgment dem. ⁴⁴ I go keep your instruction always, forever and ever. ⁴⁵ And I go waka for freedom, because I don find your precepts. ⁴⁶ I go talk about your testimony dem before kings and shame no go catch me. ⁴⁷ I dey find joy for your commandments, wey I love. ⁴⁸ I lift up my hand to your commandments, wey I love, and I dey meditate for your statutes.

⁴⁹ Remember your word to your servant, di word wey you take give me hope. ⁵⁰ Na dis be my comfort for my suffering, say your promise dey give me life. ⁵¹ Di proud dey mock me well-well, but I no dey turn comot from your instruction. ⁵² When I remember your judgment dem from di old days, my Papa, I dey find comfort. ⁵³ Hot vex dey catch me because of di wicked, dem wey dey abandon your instruction. ⁵⁴ Your statutes don be my songs everywhere wey I don live. ⁵⁵ I dey remember your name for di night, my Papa, and I dey keep your instruction. ⁵⁶ Na dis blessing don come to me, say I don keep your precepts.

⁵⁷ My Papa na my portion; I promise say I go keep your words. ⁵⁸ I dey find your favor with my whole heart; show me grace according to your promise. ⁵⁹ When I think about my ways, I turn my leg to your testimony dem. ⁶⁰ I quick-quick and I no delay to keep your commandments. ⁶¹ Even as di rope of di wicked dey trap me, I no dey forget your instruction. ⁶² For midnight I dey wake up to praise you for your righteous judgment dem. ⁶³ I be companion of all wey dey fear you, of those wey dey keep your precepts. ⁶⁴ Di earth full with your Covenant love, my Papa; teach me your statutes.

⁶⁵ You don do good to your servant, my Papa, according to your word. ⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge, because I dey believe your commandments. ⁶⁷ Before dem afflict me I bin dey wander, but now I dey keep your word. ⁶⁸ You good and you dey do good; teach me your statutes. ⁶⁹ Di proud dey smear me with lie, but with my whole heart I dey keep your precepts. ⁷⁰ Dia heart hard, e no dey feel anytin like fat, but I dey find joy for your instruction. ⁷¹ E good for me say dem afflict me, so dat I go learn your statutes. ⁷² Di instruction from your mouth better pass thousands of gold and silver for me.

⁷³ Na your hand make me and form me; give me understanding so dat I go learn your commandments. ⁷⁴ Those wey dey fear you go see me and rejoice, because I don put my hope for your word. ⁷⁵ I know, my Papa, say your judgment dem na correct-and-holy way, and say na for faithfulness you afflict me. ⁷⁶ Make your Covenant love comfort me according to your promise to your servant. ⁷⁷ Make your tender mercy wey dey pain belle come to me, so dat I go live; because your instruction na my joy. ⁷⁸ Make shame catch di proud, because dem wrong me with lie; but as for me, I go meditate for your precepts. ⁷⁹ Make those wey dey fear you turn come to me, those wey sabi your testimony dem. ⁸⁰ Make my heart no get blame for your statutes, so dat shame no go catch me.

⁸¹ My soul dey faint dey wait for your salvation; I dey put my hope for your word. ⁸² My eye don tire dey watch for your promise; I dey ask, “When you go comfort me?” ⁸³ Because I don be like wineskin wey dey for smoke, but still I no dey forget your statutes. ^a a v83 Wineskin wey dem hang for room wey full with smoke go shrink and turn black — na so di poet take draw picture of im own tired-out condition. ⁸⁴ How many days your servant get? When you go bring judgment on those wey dey persecute me? ⁸⁵ Di proud don dig pit for me; dem no dey live according to your instruction. ⁸⁶ All your commandments dey faithful; dem dey persecute me with lie; help me! ⁸⁷ Dem don almost finish me for dis earth, but I no abandon your precepts. ⁸⁸ For your Covenant love give me life, so dat I go keep di testimony wey comot from your mouth.

⁸⁹ Forever, my Papa, your word stand firm for di heavens. ⁹⁰ Your faithfulness dey last reach all generations; you don set di earth, and e dey stand strong. ⁹¹ Dem dey stand reach today by your decree, because all tins na your servants. ⁹² If your instruction no bin be my joy, I for don perish for my suffering. ⁹³ I no go ever forget your precepts, because na dem you take give me life. ⁹⁴ I be your own; save me, because I don find your precepts. ⁹⁵ Di wicked dey wait to destroy me, but I dey consider your testimony dem. ⁹⁶ I don see say all perfection get end, but your commandment wide well-well pass measure.

⁹⁷ Ah, how I take love your instruction! Na my meditation di whole day. ⁹⁸ Your commandment dey make me wise pass my enemies, because e dey with me always. ⁹⁹ I get understanding pass all my teachers, because your testimony dem na my meditation. ¹⁰⁰ I understand pass di old people, because I dey keep your precepts. ¹⁰¹ I dey hold my leg back from every evil way, so dat I go fit keep your word. ¹⁰² I no dey turn comot from your judgment dem, because na you yourself teach me. ¹⁰³ How your words take sweet for my mouth, dem sweet pass honey for my mouth! ¹⁰⁴ Through your precepts I dey get understanding; na why I hate every false way.

¹⁰⁵ Your word na lamp for my leg and light for my path. ¹⁰⁶ I don swear oath and confirm am, to keep your righteous judgment dem. ¹⁰⁷ I dey suffer well-well; give me life, my Papa, according to your word. ¹⁰⁸ Accept di praise wey I dey offer free-free, my Papa, and teach me your judgment dem. ¹⁰⁹ I dey hold my life for my hand always, but I no dey forget your instruction. ¹¹⁰ Di wicked don set trap for me, but I no dey wander comot from your precepts. ¹¹¹ Your testimony dem na my heritage forever, because dem be di joy of my heart. ¹¹² I don set my heart to do your statutes forever, reach di end.

¹¹³ I hate people wey get double mind, but I love your instruction. ¹¹⁴ You na my hiding place and my shield; I dey put my hope for your word. ¹¹⁵ Comot from me, una wey dey do evil, so dat I go keep di commandments of my Papa. ¹¹⁶ Hold me up according to your promise, so dat I go live, and no make shame catch me for my hope. ¹¹⁷ Hold me up, so dat I go dey safe and dey mind your statutes always. ¹¹⁸ You dey reject all wey dey wander comot from your statutes, because dia cunning na waste. ¹¹⁹ You dey throway all di wicked of di earth like rubbish; na why I love your testimony dem. ¹²⁰ My body dey shake for fear of you, and I dey fear your judgment dem.

¹²¹ I don do wetin just and right; no leave me for hand of those wey dey oppress me. ¹²² Give your servant assurance of good; no let di proud oppress me. ¹²³ My eye don tire dey watch for your salvation and for di fulfillment of your righteous promise. ¹²⁴ Treat your servant according to your Covenant love, and teach me your statutes. ¹²⁵ I be your servant; give me understanding, so dat I go sabi your testimony dem. ¹²⁶ Na time for our Papa to act, because dem don break your instruction. ¹²⁷ Na why I love your commandments pass gold, pass fine gold. ¹²⁸ Na why I consider all your precepts to dey right; I hate every false way.

¹²⁹ Your testimony dem dey wonderful; na why my soul dey keep dem. ¹³⁰ As your words dey open, dem dey give light; dem dey give understanding to di simple ones. ¹³¹ I open my mouth and I dey pant, because I dey hunger for your commandments. ¹³² Turn come to me and show me grace, as na so your way dey be to those wey love your name. ¹³³ Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and no let any sin rule over me. ¹³⁴ Redeem me from di oppression of man, so dat I go keep your precepts. ¹³⁵ Make your face shine on your servant, and teach me your statutes. ¹³⁶ My eye dey shed river of tears, because people no dey keep your instruction.

¹³⁷ You dey righteous, my Papa, and your judgment dem dey right. ¹³⁸ You don set your testimony dem for correct-and-holy way and for all faithfulness. ¹³⁹ My zeal dey consume me, because my enemies dey forget your words. ¹⁴⁰ Your promise don pass test well-well, and your servant love am. ¹⁴¹ I small and dem dey despise me, but I no dey forget your precepts. ¹⁴² Your correct-and-holy way na righteous forever, and your instruction na truth. ¹⁴³ Trouble and pain don catch me, but your commandments na my joy. ¹⁴⁴ Your testimony dem na righteous forever; give me understanding so dat I go live.

¹⁴⁵ With my whole heart I dey cry; answer me, my Papa! I go keep your statutes. ¹⁴⁶ I dey call you; save me, so dat I go obey your testimony dem. ¹⁴⁷ I dey wake up before day-break and I dey cry for help; I dey put my hope for your words. ¹⁴⁸ My eye dey awake before di watches of di night, so dat I go meditate for your promise. ^b b v148 Dem bin divide di night into set watch-periods (usually three or four shifts); di poet dey wake before every one of dem to pray. ¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according to your Covenant love; my Papa, according to your judgment dem give me life. ¹⁵⁰ Those wey dey persecute me with evil plan dey draw near; dem dey far from your instruction. ¹⁵¹ But you dey near, my Papa, and all your commandments na truth. ¹⁵² Long time now I don know from your testimony dem say you don found dem forever.

¹⁵³ Look my suffering and deliver me, because I no dey forget your instruction. ¹⁵⁴ Fight my case and redeem me; give me life according to your promise. ¹⁵⁵ Salvation dey far from di wicked, because dem no dey find your statutes. ¹⁵⁶ Your tender mercy wey dey pain belle big, my Papa; give me life according to your judgment dem. ¹⁵⁷ Plenty na my persecutors and my enemies, but I no dey turn comot from your testimony dem. ¹⁵⁸ I dey look di faithless ones with disgust, because dem no dey keep your word. ¹⁵⁹ Consider how I take love your precepts! Give me life, my Papa, according to your Covenant love. ¹⁶⁰ Di sum of your word na truth, and every one of your righteous judgment dem dey last forever.

¹⁶¹ Princes dey persecute me for notin, but my heart dey tremble before your words. ¹⁶² I dey rejoice for your word like person wey find big treasure. ¹⁶³ I hate and I dey vex for lie, but I love your instruction. ¹⁶⁴ Seven times for one day I dey praise you for your righteous judgment dem. ¹⁶⁵ Those wey love your instruction get plenty peace; notin fit make dem stumble. ¹⁶⁶ I dey hope for your salvation, my Papa, and I dey keep your commandments. ¹⁶⁷ My soul dey keep your testimony dem; I love dem well-well. ¹⁶⁸ I dey keep your precepts and your testimony dem, because all my ways dey before you.

¹⁶⁹ Make my cry come before you, my Papa; give me understanding according to your word. ¹⁷⁰ Make my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word. ¹⁷¹ My mouth go pour out praise, because you dey teach me your statutes. ¹⁷² My tongue go sing about your word, because all your commandments dey right. ¹⁷³ Make your hand dey ready to help me, because I don choose your precepts. ¹⁷⁴ I dey hunger for your salvation, my Papa, and your instruction na my joy. ¹⁷⁵ Make my soul live and praise you, and make your judgment dem help me. ¹⁷⁶ I don wander like sheep wey lost; find your servant, because I no dey forget your commandments. ^c c v176 Di longest psalm end with confession of wandering and plea say make di Father come find am — na di same shepherd-heart wey Jesus show when e leave di ninety-nine to find di one sheep wey wander (Luke 15:4-6).