The Perfect Revelation of the Lord

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

19 The (A)heavens declare the glory of God;
And the (B)firmament[a] shows [b]His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
(C)Their [c]line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.

In them He has set a [d]tabernacle for the sun,
Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
(D)And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
Its rising is from one end of heaven,
And its circuit to the other end;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

(E)The law of the Lord is perfect, [e]converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making (F)wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than (G)gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the [f]honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors?
(H)Cleanse me from secret faults.
13 Keep back Your servant also from (I)presumptuous sins;
Let them not have (J)dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of [g]great transgression.

14 (K)Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my [h]strength and my (L)Redeemer.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 19:1 expanse of heaven
  2. Psalm 19:1 the work of His hands
  3. Psalm 19:4 LXX, Syr., Vg. sound; Tg. business
  4. Psalm 19:4 tent
  5. Psalm 19:7 restoring
  6. Psalm 19:10 honey in the combs
  7. Psalm 19:13 Or much
  8. Psalm 19:14 Lit. rock

Yahweh’s Creation and Law

For the music director. A psalm of David.[a]

19 The heavens are telling the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands.
Every day[b] they pour forth speech,
and every night[c] they tell knowledge.
There is no speech and there are no words;
their sound is inaudible.
Yet in all the world their line[d] goes out,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them[e] he has pitched a tent for the sun,
and it is like a bridegroom
who comes out of his bridal chamber.
It is glad like a strong man
to run its course.
Its rising is from one[f] end of the heavens
and its circuit to the other end[g] of them;
and nothing is hidden from its heat.
The law of Yahweh is perfect, reviving life.[h]
The testimony of Yahweh is firm, making wise the simple.
The precepts of Yahweh are right, making the heart rejoice.
The command of Yahweh is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of Yahweh is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of Yahweh are true; they are righteous altogether,
10 more desirable than gold, even much fine gold;
and sweeter than honey, even honey in the comb.
11 Moreover, your servant is warned[i] by them;
in keeping them is great reward.
12 Who can perceive his errors?
Acquit me from hidden faults.
13 Also, keep back your servant from arrogant sins;[j]
let them not rule over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and I shall be innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your presence,
O Yahweh, my rock and my redeemer.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 19:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  2. Psalm 19:2 Literally “day to day”
  3. Psalm 19:2 Literally “night to night”
  4. Psalm 19:4 LXX “line”
  5. Psalm 19:4 That is, the heavens
  6. Psalm 19:6 Hebrew “the”
  7. Psalm 19:6 Hebrew “ends”
  8. Psalm 19:7 Or “soul”
  9. Psalm 19:11 Or “illumined”
  10. Psalm 19:13 Usage elsewhere might suggest “arrogant people”