19 1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies,
    God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
    Professor Night lectures each evening.

3-4 Their words aren’t heard,
    their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
    unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.

4-5 God makes a huge dome
    for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband
    leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
    racing to the tape.

That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
    from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
    warming hearts to faith.

7-9 The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
    and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
    showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
    and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
    with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
    down to the nth degree.

10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,
    better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
    better than red, ripe strawberries.

11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
    and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
    Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
    Keep me from stupid sins,
    from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
    scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
    these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
    on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
    God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

The Law of the Lord Is Perfect

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

19 (A)The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above[a] proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.
(B)Their (C)voice[b] goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for (D)the sun,
    (E)which comes out like (F)a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
    and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
    and its circuit to the end of them,
    and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

(G)The law of the Lord is perfect,[c]
    (H)reviving the soul;
(I)the testimony of the Lord is (J)sure,
    (K)making wise (L)the simple;
(M)the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is (N)pure,
    (O)enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
the rules[d] of the Lord are (P)true,
    and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than (Q)gold,
    even much (R)fine gold;
(S)sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of (T)the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
    (U)in keeping them there is great reward.

12 (V)Who can discern his errors?
    (W)Declare me innocent from (X)hidden faults.
13 (Y)Keep back your servant also from (Z)presumptuous sins;
    let them not have (AA)dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
    and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
    be acceptable in your sight,
    O Lord, my (AB)rock and my (AC)redeemer.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 19:1 Hebrew the expanse; compare Genesis 1:6–8
  2. Psalm 19:4 Or Their measuring line
  3. Psalm 19:7 Or blameless
  4. Psalm 19:9 Or just decrees