Psalms 19 · ESV Study Bible

The Law of the LORD Is Perfect

PSALM 19 [†] i The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above [1] proclaims his handiwork.

2 Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

3[†] There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

4[†] j Their k voice [2] goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for l the sun,

5 m which comes out like n a bridegroom leaving his chamber,

and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

6 Its 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[^][†] o The law of the LORD is perfect, [3]

p reviving the soul;

q the testimony of the LORD is r sure,

s making wise t the simple;

8[†] u the precepts of the LORD are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the LORD is v pure,

w enlightening the eyes;

9[†] the fear of the LORD is clean,

enduring forever;

the rules [4] of the LORD are x true,

and righteous altogether.

10[†] More to be desired are they than y gold,

even much z fine gold;

a sweeter also than honey

and drippings of b the honeycomb.

11[†] Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

c in keeping them there is great reward.

12[†] d Who can discern his errors?

e Declare me innocent from f hidden faults.

13[†] g Keep back your servant also from h presumptuous sins;

let them not have i dominion over me!

Then I shall be blameless,

and innocent of great transgression.

14[†] Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O LORD, my j rock and my k redeemer.

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

PSALM—NOTE ON 19:9 The fear of the LORD often means revering God, but here it is the revealed way by which one properly reveres God, i.e., the precepts of the covenant (similarly 34:11). true. A reliable transcript of God’s will.

PSALM—NOTE ON 19:8 pure. Unmixed with evil (cf. 24:4). enlightening the eyes. For the eyes to have light or to be bright is for the person to be alert and active (cf. 1 Sam. 14:27; Ezra 9:8; Ps. 13:3; 38:10; Prov. 29:13).

PSALM—NOTE ON 19:11 reward. The proper outcome, in this case assurance and character growth (see notes on vv. 12 and 13).

PSALM—NOTE ON 19:4 Paul uses these words in Rom. 10:18–19 (see note) to show that all the world has received some kind of message.

PSALM—NOTE ON Psalm 19. In singing this psalm, God’s people celebrate his law, the Torah, as his supreme revelation of himself. The psalm recounts the way the creation speaks of its Maker (vv. 1–6), and then the way in which the Mosaic law addresses the soul (vv. 7–11), followed by the humble response that this calls for (vv. 12–14). As Moses does in Genesis 1–2, the psalm identifies the transcendent Creator (“God,” v. 1) with the covenant God of Israel (“the LORD,” vv. 7–9).

PSALM—NOTE ON 19:1–6 The Eloquent Heavens. These verses describe how features of the sky bear witness to their Maker; in so doing, the song directs attention to divine speech that goes out to all humanity. The ode to the sun (vv. 4c–6) follows from the opening, giving a very specific way in which the voice of the heavens is revealed to all mankind; the thought of its scorching heat leads to the next section, the searching and pure law of the Lord.

PSALM—NOTE ON 19:1 The heavens and the sky above (see esv footnote) recall Genesis 1. The glory of God, i.e., his power, wisdom, and worthiness of honor and worship.

PSALM—NOTE ON 19:10 The fundamental attitude here is one of delight: God’s instructions are more desirable than the best riches (cf. 119:127; Prov. 8:19) and more pleasurable than the finest tastes (cf. Prov. 24:13–14).

PSALM—NOTE ON 19:3 The speech here is that mentioned in v. 2a; its voice is not heard, i.e., all people receive it (although not all attend to it).

PSALM—NOTE ON 19:13 Presumptuous sins are sins committed in arrogant disregard of divine commands (Deut. 17:12). These, when repeated, come to have dominion, and thus to enslave. Instead the desire is to become blameless (which is what the law is; see esv footnote on Ps. 19:7; see also note on 18:30). The term innocent points back to 19:12; there the singer asked to be declared innocent, while here he desires innocence in his own practice as well.