Psalm 19

The Witness of Creation and Scripture

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky[a] proclaims the work of His hands.(A)
Day after day they pour out speech;
night after night they communicate knowledge.[b]
There is no speech; there are no words;
their voice is not heard.
Their message[c] has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.(B)

In the heavens[d] He has pitched a tent for the sun.(C)
It is like a groom coming from the[e] bridal chamber;
it rejoices like an athlete running a course.
It rises from one end of the heavens
and circles[f] to their other end;(D)
nothing is hidden from its heat.

The instruction of the Lord is perfect,
renewing one’s life;(E)
the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy,
making the inexperienced wise.(F)
The precepts of the Lord are right,
making the heart glad;(G)
the command of the Lord is radiant,
making the eyes light up.(H)
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;(I)
the ordinances of the Lord are reliable
and altogether righteous.(J)
10 They are more desirable than gold—
than an abundance of pure gold;(K)
and sweeter than honey,
which comes from the honeycomb.(L)
11 In addition, Your servant is warned by them;
there is great reward in keeping them.(M)

12 Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.(N)
13 Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins;(O)
do not let them rule over me.(P)
Then I will be innocent
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.(Q)
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to You,(R)
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.(S)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 19:1 Or expanse
  2. Psalm 19:2 Or Day to day pours out speech, and night to night communicates knowledge
  3. Psalm 19:4 LXX, Sym, Syr, Vg; MT reads line
  4. Psalm 19:4 Lit In them
  5. Psalm 19:5 Lit his
  6. Psalm 19:6 Lit its circuit is

19 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making 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 for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.