Psalms — Chapter 19
Loading ESV text...
1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
2Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
3Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard,
4their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun.
5Like a bridegroom emerging from his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course,
6it rises at one end of the heavens and runs its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
9The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous.
10They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
11By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.
12Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
13Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.
14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
1The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4Their 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,
5Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6His 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.
7The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13Keep 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.
14Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
1The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament showeth his handiwork.
2Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night showeth knowledge.
3There is no speech nor language; Their voice is not heard.
4Their 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,
5Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoiceth as a strong man to run his course.
6His going forth is from the end of the heavens, And his circuit unto the ends of it; And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple.
8The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever: The ordinances of Jehovah are true, [and] righteous altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb.
11Moreover by them is thy servant warned: In keeping them there is great reward.
12Who can discern [his] errors? Clear thou me from hidden [faults].
13Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous [sins]; Let them not have dominion over me: Then shall I be upright, And I shall be clear from great transgression.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in thy sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer. Psalm 20 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1For the music director, a psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky displays his handiwork.
2Day after day it speaks out; night after night it reveals his greatness.
3There is no actual speech or word, nor is its voice literally heard.
4Yet its voice echoes throughout the earth; its words carry to the distant horizon. In the sky he has pitched a tent for the sun.
5Like a bridegroom it emerges from its chamber; like a strong man it enjoys running its course.
6It emerges from the distant horizon, and goes from one end of the sky to the other; nothing can escape its heat.
7The law of the Lord is perfect and preserves one’s life. The rules set down by the Lord are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.
8The Lord’s precepts are fair and make one joyful. The Lord’s commands are pure and give insight for life.
9The commands to fear the Lord are right and endure forever. The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy and absolutely just.
10They are of greater value than gold, than even a great amount of pure gold; they bring greater delight than honey, than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.
11Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there; those who obey them receive a rich reward.
12Who can know all his errors? Please do not punish me for sins I am unaware of.
13Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant sins; do not allow such sins to control me. Then I will be blameless and innocent of blatant rebellion.
14May my words and my thoughts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my sheltering rock and my redeemer.
1The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork.
2Day after day they pour out speech, and night after night they display knowledge.
3There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4Their voice has gone out through all the earth, their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5which is as a bridegroom coming out of his room, like a strong man rejoicing to run his course.
6His going out is from the end of the heavens, his circuit to its ends; There is nothing hidden from its heat.
7Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple.
8Yahweh’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. Yahweh’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever. Yahweh’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.
11Moreover by them is your servant warned. In keeping them there is great reward.
12Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors.
13Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I will be upright. I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.
Summary
A hymn combining creation and God's law. The heavens are described as declaring God's glory without needing words, their message going out to the whole earth, with the sun pictured as a bridegroom running its joyful course across the sky (vv. 1-6). The psalm then turns to praise God's instruction: his law revives the soul, his testimony makes the simple wise, his precepts bring joy, and his commands give light to the eyes (vv. 7-9), describing them as more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey, and a great reward to those who keep them (vv. 10-11). David asks to be cleared of hidden faults and kept from willful sin, and closes with the well-known prayer that the words of his mouth and the meditation of his heart would be pleasing to the LORD, his rock and redeemer (vv. 12-14).
Authorship & Background
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Verse-by-verse commentary on this chapter, written for the everyday reader and freely available online.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of Psalms -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- Creation Preaches to Everyone (v.1) — The heavens declare God's glory without a single word being spoken, reaching every person regardless of language. Do you still notice God's voice in creation, or has it become background noise?
- God's Word Does Specific Work (v.7) — Scripture is described as reviving the soul and making the simple wise, not just informing the mind. Where in your life do you need God's Word to revive or instruct you right now?
- Valuing Scripture Above Gold and Honey (v.10) — David describes God's words as more desirable than wealth and sweeter than the richest food. Does your actual time and attention reflect that Scripture holds this kind of value for you?
- Asking God to Reveal Hidden Faults (v.12) — David acknowledges sins he cannot even see in himself and asks God to cleanse him from them. Are you willing to ask God to search out blind spots you cannot identify on your own?
- Guarding Against Deliberate Sin (v.13) — David prays not just for cleansing from hidden faults but for God to keep him from willful rebellion. What deliberate sin do you need God's help resisting before it takes hold?