Psalm 19:1-11

The Law of the Lord Is Perfect

1 ¹The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above^[a] 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 ²Their ³voice^[b] goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for ⁴the sun,

5 ⁵which comes out like ⁶a 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 ⁷The law of the Lord is perfect, ^{[c] 8}reviving the soul; ⁹the testimony of the Lord is ¹⁰sure, ¹¹making wise ¹²the simple;

8 ¹³the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is ¹⁴pure, ¹⁵enlightening the eyes;

9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules^[d] of the Lord are ¹⁶true, and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than ¹⁷gold, even much ¹⁸fine gold; ¹⁹sweeter also than honey and drippings of ²⁰the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; ²¹in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 19:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. This psalm was penned by David, and inscribed to the chief musician, as others, to be used in public service, and was designed for Gospel times, as the subject of it shows; which is first, not an account of the light of nature, and then of the law of Moses, but of the Gospel of Christ; and especially as ministered in the times of the apostles, as a citation out of it in Romans 10:18, makes clear.

Cross References

• 1. 19:1 Ps. 50:6; [Rom. 1:19, 20]
• 2. 19:4 Cited Rom. 10:18
• 3. 19:4 [Isa. 28:10]
• 4. 19:4 [Eccles. 1:5]
• 5. 19:5 [Judg. 5:31]
• 6. 19:5 Joel 2:16
• 7. 19:7 Rom. 7:12
• 8. 19:7 Ps. 23:3; [2 Tim. 3:16]
• 9. 19:7 Ex. 25:16; See Ps. 78:5
• 10. 19:7 Ps. 111:7
• 11. 19:7 [Matt. 11:25; 1 Cor. 1:27; 2 Tim. 3:15]
• 12. 19:7 Ps. 119:130; Prov. 1:4
• 13. 19:8 Ps. 103:18; 111:7; 119:4, 27
• 14. 19:8 [Ps. 12:6]
• 15. 19:8 See Ps. 13:3
• 16. 19:9 Ps. 119:142, 151, 160
• 17. 19:10 Ps. 119:72, 127; Prov. 8:10
• 18. 19:10 Job 28:17; Prov. 8:19
• 19. 19:10 Ps. 119:103
• 20. 19:10 Prov. 16:24
• 21. 19:11 [Prov. 29:18]

Footnotes

• [a] 19:1 Hebrew 'the expanse'; compare Genesis 1:6–8
• [b] 19:4 Or 'Their measuring line'
• [c] 19:7 Or 'blameless'
• [d] 19:9 Or 'just decrees'