17. I come before you as a sinner saved by grace to be your servant and saint, so I boldly pray that you would abundantly grant me the grace to live by and to keep your instruction.
17 Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.
18. Your word is filled with wondrous truth, by your Spirit open my eyes to see it, understand it, believe it and obey it.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
19. Remind me that I am a stranger and pilgrim on the earth, a traveler to a far distant home, where my kindred, heart, and treasure are. That my citizenship is in heaven, and that my possessions are there, far beyond the reach of rust, moth, fire, thieves, and revolutions. Acquaint me with your word and through it furnish me with light, joy, strength, food, armor, and whatever else I may need on my way home.
19 I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! (Plumer and Bridges)
20. Satisfy the Spirit-wrought longing of my soul for your word, and grant that my desire for your word would be habitual in all times, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health.
20 My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
21. Show me the deep danger of pride, and enable me to live in humility because of your free and sovereign grace, and destroy this cursed principle of pride in me, keeping me near the cross, for your glory and my spiritual good.
21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.
22. Remind me that even pure benevolence, a heavenly mind and unoffending innocence cannot shield me from the scorning of scorners, and their reproach and contempt, yet, I pray to you, protect me in this trial, bring good out of this evil, make me more like Christ, give me a fellowship with you through it all.
22 Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.
23. Even my Savior endured the plottings of princes and principal men, why should I be surprised when I experience the same. Grant only this, that I would endure by your strength, and find aid and courage in the Word of God and at your mercy-seat.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24. In my perplexity, make your word my delight, in my distress and disorientation, make your word my counselor.
24 Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.
On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand,
On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand,
and cast a wishful eye
to Canaan’s fair and happy land,
where my possessions lie.
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
~ Samuel Stennett