Genius in Poetry
The psalmist set himself a task …
for each of the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet,
create eight verses that each begin with that letter.
Apparently, that is called an alphabetic acrostic.
Not many have attempted the feat in English.
Here is a preview of how we took that marvel into WORD verbatim.
ALEPH (a in English)
Adored are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with their whole heart.
BETH (b in English)
Buried within my heart are your words, so that I should not sin against you.
GIMEL (hard g in English)
God, open my eyes and so I shall spy out wondrous things in your law.
DALETH (d in English)
Declare to me the way of your commandments, and so I shall talk of your wondrous works.
HE (h in English)
Herd me in the path of your commandments, for that is my desire.
VAU (v in English; Vav)
Voicing your testimonies even before kings, and I will not be ashamed.
ZAIN (z in English; Zayin)
Zenith of haughty men, have me greatly in derision; yet I do not shrink from your law.
CHET (hard ch in English; like loch in Scotland)
Cohorts of the ungodly have robbed me, but I do not forget your law.
TEH (t in English; Thet)
Thousands of gold and silver is worth less to me, than the law of your mouth.
JOD (j in English; Yod)
Justify my heart in your statutes, that I may not be ashamed.
CAPH (k in English; Kaf)
Knit sore for your word, my eyes ask: O, when will you comfort me?
LAMED (l in English)
Languishing in my trouble would be my lot, if my delight were not in your law.
MEM (m in English)
Ministered by your commandments, I get understanding; therefore I hate all false ways.
NUN (n in English)
Niggled above measure, revive me, O LORDe, according to your word.
SAMECH (s in English)
Stamp down all of them that depart from your statutes, for they imagine only deceit.
AIN (a in English; Ayin)
Acting upon the thing that is lawful and right; O, do not give me over to my oppressors.
PHE (p in English; Pe)
Pouring water out of my eyes, because men do not keep your law.
ZADE (t in English; Tzadi)
Tried to the utmost, so your word is loved by your servant.
KOPH (q in English; Qof)
Questers of wickedness draw close and persecute me, they are far from your law.
RES (r in English; Resh)
Rife are they that trouble me, and persecute me; yet do I not swerve from your testimonies.
SIN (s in English; Shin)
Such princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.
THAU (th in English; Tav)
Thrust off track, like a sheep that is lost; O, seek your servant,
for I do not forget your commandments.
Psalm 119
The English sound guides show how each verse begins in this rendering. They are intended to help readers appreciate the alphabetic pattern, rather than provide a complete guide to Hebrew pronunciation.