What does Psalms Chapter 118 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Beati immaculati is the incipit. The heading names virtue in love and observance of God’s commandments, followed by Alleluia. The Aleph annotation explains twenty-two Hebrew letters, eight verses each, varied patristic interpretations and reading difficult scripture with humility and submission to the Church. A separate testimonies note explains varied names of divine law and their appearance through nearly all 176 verses. These are the edition’s explanations, distinct from the speaker’s words.

Aleph blesses undefiled walkers and wholehearted seekers, describing abstention from iniquity and diligent commands. The speaker asks directed ways, anticipates freedom from shame, will praise when he learns judgments and will keep justifications, asking not to be forsaken utterly.

Beth asks how a young man corrects his way, answering observance of words. Having sought wholeheartedly, he asks not to stray; he hid words so he may not sin, asks teaching, recalls spoken judgments and delight like riches, and promises meditation and remembrance.

Gimel asks bountiful enlivening, opened eyes to wondrous law and commands not hidden from a sojourner. Longing accompanies the rebuke of proud decliners. He asks reproach and contempt removed, having sought testimonies; princes sat and spoke against him while he was employed in justifications, with testimonies meditation and counsel.

Daleth names soul cleaving to pavement and slumbering from heaviness, requesting quickening and strength. He declared ways and was heard, asks instruction and restraint from iniquity, recalls choosing truth and holding testimonies, asks freedom from shame and says he has run when his heart was enlarged.

He asks law, understanding, a path, a heart inclined away from covetousness and eyes turned from vanity. He asks quickening, established word, reproach turned away and quickening in justice, having longed for precepts.

Vau anticipates mercy and salvation, an answer to reproach and words retained, and promises perpetual observance. He recalls walking at large, speaking before kings without shame, meditating, lifting hands to loved commands and exercising justifications. Speaking before kings is past, not a future plan.

Zain asks remembrance of the word that gave hope, recalls comfort, undiminished law despite proud injustice and old judgments. Fainting came because sinners forsook law; justifications were his pilgrimage song. He remembered the name at night and kept law, saying this happened because he sought justifications.

Heth names the Lord his portion and his promised observance. He entreated mercy, considered ways, turned feet, was ready and not troubled, and did not forget law amid wicked cords. He rose at midnight to praise, shares with fearers and keepers, and asks teaching on an earth full of mercy.

Teth recalls good done to the servant and asks goodness, discipline and knowledge. He offended before being humbled and kept the word; asks teaching and will seek despite proud iniquity. Their heart curdled like milk while he meditated. He says being humbled was good so he might learn, valuing law above thousands of gold and silver. This account does not establish that every suffering necessarily purifies everyone.

Jod recalls being made and fashioned, asks understanding to learn and says fearers shall see and rejoice. Judgments are equity and humbling in truth; he asks comfort and mercies so he may live, proud people’s shame, fearers to turn to him and an undefiled heart without confusion.

Caph describes fainting soul and failing eyes, asking when comfort will come. He became like a bottle in frost, not an emaciated wineskin in smoke. He asks how many servant days and when persecutors face judgment. Wicked fables differ from law, true statutes accompany unjust persecution and requested help; nearly ended on earth, he did not forsake commands and asks merciful quickening so he shall keep testimonies.

Lamed declares the word firm in heaven and truth through generations, founded enduring earth and day governed by ordinance, all things serving God. Without law as meditation he had perhaps perished in abjection; perhaps remains. He will never forget life-giving justifications, asks saving as God’s own, recalls wicked waiting to destroy and understanding testimonies, and has seen an end of perfection beside the commandment’s breadth.

Mem describes loved law as daily meditation, wisdom above enemies, understanding above teachers and ancients through meditation and seeking. He restrained feet from evil and did not decline judgments because God set law. Words are sweeter than honey to his palate; understanding accompanies hatred of iniquity.

Nun calls the word lamp and path light. He has sworn and is determined to keep judgments, asks quickening in great humiliation, acceptable free mouth offerings and instruction. Soul continually in his hands, he did not forget law or err amid sinners’ snare. He purchased testimonies as joyful everlasting inheritance and inclined his heart to justifications forever for reward.

Samech contrasts hatred of unjust and love of law, names helper and protector and commands malignant people to depart as he will search. He asks upholding to live without confounded expectation and help so he shall be saved and meditate. God despised falling-away people for unjust thought; he accounted sinners prevaricators and loved testimonies, asking flesh pierced with fear because judgments frighten him.

Ain recalls doing justice and asks not to be given to slanderers, with upholding against proud calumny. Eyes faint for salvation and justice’s word. He asks merciful dealing, teaching and understanding; says it is time for the Lord to do because they dissipated law. He loved commands above gold and topaz, was directed to them and hated wicked ways.

Phe calls testimonies wonderful and sought by his soul; declaration of words gives light and understanding to little ones. He opened mouth and panted in longing, asks regard and mercy, directed steps free from iniquity’s dominion, redemption from calumnies to keep commands, a shining face and teaching. His eyes sent springs of water because they did not keep law.

Sade calls the Lord just, judgment right and commanded testimonies just and true. Zeal made him pine because enemies forgot words; he loved refined word, remained remembering despite being very young and despised, and names justice everlasting and law truth. Trouble and anguish found him but commands remain meditation; he asks understanding so he shall live.

Coph recalls wholehearted crying and asks hearing and saving to keep commands. He anticipated dawn crying and morning with eyes toward God for meditation. He asks merciful hearing and quickening; persecutors drew near iniquity and far from law, while the Lord is near and all His ways truth. He knew testimonies founded forever. Morning is not silently replaced by night watches.

Res asks regard for humiliation, delivery, judgment, redemption and quickening for the word. Salvation is far from sinners who did not seek justifications. Mercies are many, persecution numerous yet he did not decline; transgressors’ disregard made him pine. He asks merciful quickening because he loved commands, declaring words’ beginning truth and justice judgments everlasting.

Sin recalls princes’ causeless persecution and awe of words. He will rejoice like one who found great spoil, has hated iniquity and loved law, and praised seven times daily. Much peace and no stumbling block are attributed to law-lovers; he looked for salvation, loved commands and kept testimonies exceedingly because all ways are in God’s sight. Future rejoicing is not a completed treasure discovery.

Tau asks near supplication, understanding, heard request and delivery. Lips shall hymn when taught and tongue shall pronounce because commands are justice. He asks a saving hand having chosen precepts, recalls salvation longing and meditation, and says soul shall live and praise with judgments helping. He has strayed like a lost sheep and asks the Lord to seek His servant because he has not forgotten commands. The final request remains unresolved, without an added identification of the Good Shepherd.