Psalm 19-21

English Standard Version

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.
²Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.
³There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.
⁴^(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,
⁵    ^(E)which comes out like ^(F)a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
    and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
⁶Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
    and its circuit to the end of them,
    and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

⁷^(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;
⁸^(M)the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is ^(N)pure,
    ^(O)enlightening the eyes;
⁹the fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
the rules^[d] of the Lord are ^(P)true,
    and righteous altogether.
¹⁰More to be desired are they than ^(Q)gold,
    even much ^(R)fine gold;
^(S)sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of ^(T)the honeycomb.
¹¹Moreover, 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.

¹⁴Let 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.

Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

20 May the Lord ^(AD)answer you in the day of trouble!
    May ^(AE)the name of the God of Jacob ^(AF)protect you!
²May he send you help from ^(AG)the sanctuary
    and give you support from ^(AH)Zion!
³May he ^(AI)remember all your offerings
    and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

⁴May he ^(AJ)grant you your heart's desire
and fulfill all your plans!
⁵May we shout for joy over ^(AK)your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our ^(AL)banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

⁶Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
    he will answer him from his holy heaven
    with ^(AM)the saving might of his right hand.
⁷Some trust in ^(AN)chariots and some in ^(AO)horses,
    ^(AP)but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
⁸They collapse and fall,
    but we rise and stand upright.

⁹O Lord, save ^(AQ)the king!
May he answer us when we call.

The King Rejoices in the Lord's Strength

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

21 O Lord, in your ^(AR)strength the king rejoices,
    and in your ^(AS)salvation how greatly he exults!
²You have ^(AT)given him his heart's desire
    and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
³For you ^(AU)meet him with rich blessings;
    you set ^(AV)a crown of ^(AW)fine gold upon his head.
⁴He asked life of you; you ^(AX)gave it to him,
    ^(AY)length of days forever and ever.
⁵His ^(AZ)glory is great through your salvation;
    ^(BA)splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
⁶For you make him most blessed forever;^[e]
    you make him glad with the ^(BB)joy of your presence.
⁷For the king trusts in the Lord,
    and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be ^(BC)moved.

⁸Your hand will ^(BD)find out all your enemies;
    your right hand will find out those who hate you.
⁹You will make them as ^(BE)a blazing oven
    when you appear.
The Lord will swallow them up in his ^(BF)wrath,
    and ^(BG)fire will consume them.
¹⁰You ^(BH)will destroy their ^(BI)descendants from the earth,
    and their offspring from among the children of man.
¹¹Though they plan evil against you,
    though they ^(BJ)devise mischief, they will not succeed.
¹²For you will put them ^(BK)to flight;
    you will ^(BL)aim at their faces with your bows.