Psalm 19 Articles

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Text Only (Hebrew and English) The text below is divided according to the psalm's poetic lines. For additional information, see our Poetic Structure layer.

Text (Hebrew)	Verse	Text (CBC) The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is designed to be "close" to the Hebrew, while still being "clear." Specifically, the CBC encapsulates and reflects the following layers of analysis: grammar, lexical semantics, phrase-level semantics, and verbal semantics. It does not reflect our analysis of the discourse or of poetics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד	1	For the director. A psalm. By David.
הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם מְֽסַפְּרִ֥ים כְּבֽוֹד־אֵ֑ל	2a	The sky is declaring God’s honor,
וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דָ֗יו מַגִּ֥יד הָרָקִֽיעַ׃	2b	and the firmament is telling about the workmanship of his hands.
י֣וֹם לְ֭יוֹם יַבִּ֣יעַֽ אֹ֑מֶר	3a	Day after day pours out speech,
וְלַ֥יְלָה לְּ֝לַ֗יְלָה יְחַוֶּה־דָּֽעַת׃	3b	and night after night imparts knowledge.
אֵֽין־אֹ֭מֶר וְאֵ֣ין דְּבָרִ֑ים	4a	There is no speech, and there are no words
בְּ֝לִ֗י נִשְׁמָ֥ע קוֹלָֽם׃	4b	whose sound is not being heard.
בְּכָל־הָאָ֨רֶץ ׀ יָ֘צָ֤א קַוָּ֗ם	5a	Its verse line has gone forth throughout the whole earth,
וּבִקְצֵ֣ה תֵ֭בֵל מִלֵּיהֶ֑ם	5b	and its words [have gone forth] throughout the edge of the world.
לַ֝שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ שָֽׂם־אֹ֥הֶל בָּהֶֽם׃	5c	He has set up in it a home for the sun,
וְה֗וּא כְּ֭חָתָן יֹצֵ֣א מֵחֻפָּת֑וֹ	6a	and he is like a bridegroom coming out of his tent.
יָשִׂ֥ישׂ כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר לָר֥וּץ אֹֽרַח׃	6b	He is glad, like a warrior, to run his course.
מִקְצֵ֤ה הַשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ מֽוֹצָא֗וֹ	7a	His starting point is from the edge of the sky,
וּתְקוּפָת֥וֹ עַל־קְצוֹתָ֑ם	7b	and his turning point is at its edges,
וְאֵ֥ין נִ֝סְתָּ֗ר מֵֽחַמָּתוֹ׃	7c	and nothing is hidden from his heat.
תּ֘וֹרַ֤ת יְהוָ֣ה תְּ֭מִימָה	8a	YHWH’s instruction is perfect,
מְשִׁ֣יבַת נָ֑פֶשׁ	8b	restoring life.
עֵד֥וּת יְהוָ֥ה נֶ֝אֱמָנָ֗ה	8c	YHWH’s testimony is reliable,
מַחְכִּ֥ימַת פֶּֽתִי׃	8d	making simpletons wise.
פִּקּ֘וּדֵ֤י יְהוָ֣ה יְ֭שָׁרִים	9a	YHWH’s commandments are just,
מְשַׂמְּחֵי־לֵ֑ב	9b	causing the heart to rejoice.
מִצְוַ֥ת יְהוָ֥ה בָּ֝רָ֗ה	9c	YHWH’s command is flawless,
מְאִירַ֥ת עֵינָֽיִם׃	9d	giving light to the eyes.
יִרְאַ֤ת יְהוָ֨ה ׀ טְהוֹרָה֮	10a	Fearing YHWH is pure,
עוֹמֶ֪דֶת לָ֫עַ֥ד	10b	enduring forever.
מִֽשְׁפְּטֵי־יְהוָ֥ה אֱמֶ֑ת	10c	YHWH’s rules are true;
צָֽדְק֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃	10d	they are altogether right;
הַֽנֶּחֱמָדִ֗ים מִ֭זָּהָב וּמִפַּ֣ז רָ֑ב	11a	those which are more desirable than gold, even much pure gold,
וּמְתוּקִ֥ים מִ֝דְּבַ֗שׁ וְנֹ֣פֶת צוּפִֽים׃	11b	and sweeter than honey, even virgin honey from the honeycomb.
גַּֽם־עַ֭בְדְּךָ נִזְהָ֣ר בָּהֶ֑ם	12a	Furthermore, your servant is warned by them.
בְּ֝שָׁמְרָ֗ם עֵ֣קֶב רָֽב׃	12b	There is great reward in keeping them.
שְׁגִיא֥וֹת מִֽי־יָבִ֑ין	13a	Who can discern mistakes?
מִֽנִּסְתָּר֥וֹת נַקֵּֽנִי׃	13b	Clear me from the guilt of hidden sins!
גַּ֤ם מִזֵּדִ֨ים ׀ חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ עַבְדֶּ֗ךָ	14a	Also, prevent your servant from committing presumptuous sins!
אַֽל־יִמְשְׁלוּ־בִ֣י	14b	Do not let them rule over me!
אָ֣ז אֵיתָ֑ם	14c	Then I will be blameless
וְ֝נִקֵּ֗יתִי מִפֶּ֥שַֽׁע רָֽב׃	14d	and innocent of great crime.
יִֽהְי֥וּ לְרָצ֨וֹן ׀ אִמְרֵי־פִ֡י	15a	Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
וְהֶגְי֣וֹן לִבִּ֣י לְפָנֶ֑יךָ	15b	be acceptable before you,
יְ֝הוָ֗ה צוּרִ֥י וְגֹאֲלִֽי׃	15c	YHWH, my rock and my redeemer!

Structure Overlay Below, the text has been overlaid with our summary structural analysis. For details on the structure, see the Structure At-a-Glance here.

Text (Hebrew)	Verse	Text (CBC)
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד	1	For the director. A psalm. By David.
הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם מְֽסַפְּרִ֥ים כְּבֽוֹד־אֵ֑ל	2a	The sky is declaring God’s honor,
וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דָ֗יו מַגִּ֥יד הָרָקִֽיעַ׃	2b	and the firmament is telling about the workmanship of his hands.
י֣וֹם לְ֭יוֹם יַבִּ֣יעַֽ אֹ֑מֶר	3a	Day after day pours out speech,
וְלַ֥יְלָה לְּ֝לַ֗יְלָה יְחַוֶּה־דָּֽעַת׃	3b	and night after night imparts knowledge.
אֵֽין־אֹ֭מֶר וְאֵ֣ין דְּבָרִ֑ים	4a	There is no speech, and there are no words
בְּ֝לִ֗י נִשְׁמָ֥ע קוֹלָֽם׃	4b	whose sound is not being heard.
בְּכָל־הָאָ֨רֶץ ׀ יָ֘צָ֤א קַוָּ֗ם	5a	Its verse line has gone forth throughout the whole earth,
וּבִקְצֵ֣ה תֵ֭בֵל מִלֵּיהֶ֑ם	5b	and its words [have gone forth] throughout the edge of the world.
לַ֝שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ שָֽׂם־אֹ֥הֶל בָּהֶֽם׃	5c	He has set up in it a home for the sun,
וְה֗וּא כְּ֭חָתָן יֹצֵ֣א מֵחֻפָּת֑וֹ	6a	and he is like a bridegroom coming out of his tent.
יָשִׂ֥ישׂ כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר לָר֥וּץ אֹֽרַח׃	6b	He is glad, like a warrior, to run his course.
מִקְצֵ֤ה הַשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ מֽוֹצָא֗וֹ	7a	His starting point is from the edge of the sky,
וּתְקוּפָת֥וֹ עַל־קְצוֹתָ֑ם	7b	and his turning point is at its edges,
וְאֵ֥ין נִ֝סְתָּ֗ר מֵֽחַמָּתוֹ׃	7c	and nothing is hidden from his heat.
תּ֘וֹרַ֤ת יְהוָ֣ה תְּ֭מִימָה	8a	YHWH’s instruction is perfect,
מְשִׁ֣יבַת נָ֑פֶשׁ	8b	restoring life.
עֵד֥וּת יְהוָ֥ה נֶ֝אֱמָנָ֗ה	8c	YHWH’s testimony is reliable,
מַחְכִּ֥ימַת פֶּֽתִי׃	8d	making simpletons wise.
פִּקּ֘וּדֵ֤י יְהוָ֣ה יְ֭שָׁרִים	9a	YHWH’s commandments are just,
מְשַׂמְּחֵי־לֵ֑ב	9b	causing the heart to rejoice.
מִצְוַ֥ת יְהוָ֥ה בָּ֝רָ֗ה	9c	YHWH’s command is flawless,
מְאִירַ֥ת עֵינָֽיִם׃	9d	giving light to the eyes.
יִרְאַ֤ת יְהוָ֨ה ׀ טְהוֹרָה֮	10a	Fearing YHWH is pure,
עוֹמֶ֪דֶת לָ֫עַ֥ד	10b	enduring forever.
מִֽשְׁפְּטֵי־יְהוָ֥ה אֱמֶ֑ת	10c	YHWH’s rules are true;
צָֽדְק֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃	10d	they are altogether right;
הַֽנֶּחֱמָדִ֗ים מִ֭זָּהָב וּמִפַּ֣ז רָ֑ב	11a	those which are more desirable than gold, even much pure gold,
וּמְתוּקִ֥ים מִ֝דְּבַ֗שׁ וְנֹ֣פֶת צוּפִֽים׃	11b	and sweeter than honey, even virgin honey from the honeycomb.
גַּֽם־עַ֭בְדְּךָ נִזְהָ֣ר בָּהֶ֑ם	12a	Furthermore, your servant is warned by them.
בְּ֝שָׁמְרָ֗ם עֵ֣קֶב רָֽב׃	12b	There is great reward in keeping them.
שְׁגִיא֥וֹת מִֽי־יָבִ֑ין	13a	Who can discern mistakes?
מִֽנִּסְתָּר֥וֹת נַקֵּֽנִי׃	13b	Clear me from the guilt of hidden sins!
גַּ֤ם מִזֵּדִ֨ים ׀ חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ עַבְדֶּ֗ךָ	14a	Also, prevent your servant from committing presumptuous sins!
אַֽל־יִמְשְׁלוּ־בִ֣י	14b	Do not let them rule over me!
אָ֣ז אֵיתָ֑ם	14c	Then I will be blameless
וְ֝נִקֵּ֗יתִי מִפֶּ֥שַֽׁע רָֽב׃	14d	and innocent of great crime.
יִֽהְי֥וּ לְרָצ֨וֹן ׀ אִמְרֵי־פִ֡י	15a	Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
וְהֶגְי֣וֹן לִבִּ֣י לְפָנֶ֑יךָ	15b	be acceptable before you,
יְ֝הוָ֗ה צוּרִ֥י וְגֹאֲלִֽי׃	15c	YHWH, my rock and my redeemer!

Expanded Paraphrase The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.

Text (Hebrew)	Verse	Expanded Paraphrase
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד	1	For the director of music and thus, for the congregation to hear and recite. A psalm. Written by David , the servant of YHWH (cf. Ps 18:1; 19:12-14) .
הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם מְֽסַפְּרִ֥ים כְּבֽוֹד־אֵ֑ל וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דָ֗יו מַגִּ֥יד הָרָקִֽיעַ׃	2	"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen 1:1)—an act which indicates God's supreme honor and immense skill. On the first day of creation, he made day and night. On the second day of creation, he made the firmament, which he named "sky." On the fourth day of creation, God made the sun, moon, and stars to fill the sky and to govern the rhythm of day and night. And not only did God create the world in this way, he also continues to sustain and regulate this created order. One of the clearest examples of the continuation of God's created order is the continuous succession of days and nights (cf. Gen 8:22), which is governed by the movements of the sun, moon and stars in the sky. In this way, The sky is declaring the honor of the one who created it and who sustains it. It is declaring God's honor, and the firmament , a part of the "sky," is telling about the workmanship of his hands. The sky is like a poet recounting in verse the great honor and skill of its creator.
י֣וֹם לְ֭יוֹם יַבִּ֣יעַֽ אֹ֑מֶר וְלַ֥יְלָה לְּ֝לַ֗יְלָה יְחַוֶּה־דָּֽעַת׃	3	In what way is the sky declaring God's honor and skill? It is Day after day , i.e., the continued rhythm of day to day, that pours out speech, and it is night after night that imparts knowledge , a knowledge about God, the creator, the possessor of infinite honor and skill. In other words, the sky communicates God's honor and skill through the orderly succession of days and nights and the consequent movements of the sun, moon, and stars. As we see these celestial bodies move across the sky in perfect order and radiant beauty, we are reminded of the honor and skill of the creator. The "rhythm" of the sky's poem is the rhythm of day and night.
אֵֽין־אֹ֭מֶר וְאֵ֣ין דְּבָרִ֑ים בְּ֝לִ֗י נִשְׁמָ֥ע קוֹלָֽם׃	4	And the sky's poem is heard by everyone. There is no speech, and there are no words whose sound is not being heard. Everyone hears and understands the sky's poem, no matter where they live or what language they speak.
בְּכָל־הָאָ֨רֶץ ׀ יָ֘צָ֤א קַוָּ֗ם וּבִקְצֵ֣ה תֵ֭בֵל מִלֵּיהֶ֑ם לַ֝שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ שָֽׂם־אֹ֥הֶל בָּהֶֽם׃	5	Its verse line has gone forth throughout the whole earth , so that everyone hears this heavenly poem , and its words [have gone forth] throughout the edge of the world. The greatest of the sky's lights which governs the passage of time and thus declares God's honor is the sun. The sun lives in the sky, because that is where God placed it. He has set up in it , that is, in the sky, a home for the sun.
וְה֗וּא כְּ֭חָתָן יֹצֵ֣א מֵחֻפָּת֑וֹ יָשִׂ֥ישׂ כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר לָר֥וּץ אֹֽרַח׃	6	In the morning, the sun wakes up and leaves his tent, his home, with joy, and so he is like a newly married bridegroom , strong and joyful, coming out of his tent on the morning after his wedding. He is glad , not only like a bridegroom, but also like a great warrior, to run his course. The sun, as the ruler of the day (Gen 1:16), is like a great warrior, and great warriors are excellent runners, who love to run long distances and exercise their athletic ability.
מִקְצֵ֤ה הַשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ מֽוֹצָא֗וֹ וּתְקוּפָת֥וֹ עַל־קְצוֹתָ֑ם וְאֵ֥ין נִ֝סְתָּ֗ר מֵֽחַמָּתוֹ׃	7	His starting point is from the eastern edge of the sky, and his turning point is at its edges in the west, at which point he turns around and travels through the underworld to return to his starting point for the next day. The sun's course spans the universe, and so nothing is hidden from his heat.
תּ֘וֹרַ֤ת יְהוָ֣ה תְּ֭מִימָה מְשִׁ֣יבַת נָ֑פֶשׁ עֵד֥וּת יְהוָ֥ה נֶ֝אֱמָנָ֗ה מַחְכִּ֥ימַת פֶּֽתִי׃	8	YHWH's covenant instruction is like the sun. Just as the sun is a perfect source of life and refreshment, so YHWH's covenantal instruction , which he revealed to Moses, is perfect, restoring life. And just as the sun is sometimes associated with reliability and the gift of wisdom, so YHWH's testimony is reliable, making simpletons wise.
פִּקּ֘וּדֵ֤י יְהוָ֣ה יְ֭שָׁרִים מְשַׂמְּחֵי־לֵ֑ב מִצְוַ֥ת יְהוָ֥ה בָּ֝רָ֗ה מְאִירַ֥ת עֵינָֽיִם׃	9	And just as the sun is associated with justice and the giving of joy, so YHWH's commandments are just, causing the heart to rejoice. And just as the sun is a flawless (or bright) source of light, so YHWH's command is flawless or bright , giving light to the eyes.
יִרְאַ֤ת יְהוָ֨ה ׀ טְהוֹרָה֮ עוֹמֶ֪דֶת לָ֫עַ֥ד מִֽשְׁפְּטֵי־יְהוָ֥ה אֱמֶ֑ת צָֽדְק֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃	10	And just as the sun endures forever, so fearing YHWH , i.e., the commandments, which have as their beginning and end the fear of YHWH , is pure, free from all impurities, and thus, like pure gold, enduring forever. And just as the sun is associated with righteousness, so YHWH's rules are true ; and they are therefore altogether right.
הַֽנֶּחֱמָדִ֗ים מִ֭זָּהָב וּמִפַּ֣ז רָ֑ב וּמְתוּקִ֥ים מִ֝דְּבַ֗שׁ וְנֹ֣פֶת צוּפִֽים׃	11	For all of these reasons, they , i.e., YHWH's rulings as representing the entirety of his covenantal instruction, are more desirable than gold, even much pure gold, and sweeter than honey, even virgin honey from the honeycomb.
גַּֽם־עַ֭בְדְּךָ נִזְהָ֣ר בָּהֶ֑ם בְּ֝שָׁמְרָ֗ם עֵ֣קֶב רָֽב׃	12	YHWH's perfect covenantal instruction has numerous benefits. In addition to all of the things mentioned above, it also does something else: it warns. And so, Furthermore, your servant by which I mean "I myself" is warned by them. When I hear the sky declaring your honor and I sense the perfection of your words penetrating my soul like the sun's scorching rays, I realize how sinful I am, and I am "warned" of my perilous situation (cf. Isa 6). Although there is great reward in keeping them (cf. vv. 8-11), there is only misery for those who fail to keep them.
שְׁגִיא֥וֹת מִֽי־יָבִ֑ין מִֽנִּסְתָּר֥וֹת נַקֵּֽנִי׃	13	Yet how can I keep your rules and experience the great reward that they bring? I cannot avoid but making mistakes, i.e., inadvertently doing that which you have prohibited. Who can know the entirety of your instruction and how it applies to every area of life and so can discern mistakes before it's too late ? And in addition to the mistakes I have committed, there are a countless number of hidden sins of which I am guilty and not even aware. Yet you see them, for you are the one who searches the heart. Clear me from the guilt of hidden sins!
גַּ֤ם מִזֵּדִ֨ים ׀ חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ עַבְדֶּ֗ךָ אַֽל־יִמְשְׁלוּ־בִ֣י אָ֣ז אֵיתָ֑ם וְ֝נִקֵּ֗יתִי מִפֶּ֥שַֽׁע רָֽב׃	14	Also, prevent your servant from committing presumptuous sins! Do not let them rule over me! Only then —only if you forgive my hidden sins and protect me from presumptuous sins— 'I will be a blameless sacrifice pleasing to you and , no longer threatened by the rule of presumptuous sins, I will be innocent of great crime (cf. Gen 4:7-8) .
יִֽהְי֥וּ לְרָצ֨וֹן ׀ אִמְרֵי־פִ֡י וְהֶגְי֣וֹן לִבִּ֣י לְפָנֶ֑יךָ יְ֝הוָ֗ה צוּרִ֥י וְגֹאֲלִֽי׃	15	Let me be a pleasing sacrifice to you, YHWH! Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, i.e., my thoughts, be an acceptable sacrifice before you, YHWH, my rock, who protects me from sin's threatening dominion, and my redeemer , who forgives all my iniquities !