Psalm 19:1-8

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 ^[a]The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.

4 Yet their voice^[b] goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

Psalm 19:1-8 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. Psalms 89:5; Isaiah 40:22
• 2. Psalms 50:6; Psalms 148:3; Romans 1:19
• 3. Psalms 4:2; Psalms 8:1; Psalms 97:6; Isaiah 6:3
• 4. S Genesis 1:8
• 5. S Psalms 8:6; S Psalms 103:22
• 6. Psalms 74:16
• 7. Romans 10:18*
• 8. S Job 36:29; Psalms 104:2
• 9. S Judges 5:31
• 10. Joel 2:16
• 11. S Job 36:29
• 12. 1 Samuel 17:4
• 13. Deuteronomy 30:4
• 14. Psalms 113:3; Ecclesiastes 1:5
• 15. S Psalms 1:2
• 16. Psalms 119:142; James 1:25
• 17. Psalms 23:3
• 18. Psalms 93:5; Psalms 111:7; Psalms 119:138,144
• 19. S Deuteronomy 4:6; Psalms 119:130; Psalms 119:98-100
• 20. Psalms 12:6; Psalms 33:4; Psalms 119:128
• 21. Psalms 119:14
• 22. S Ezra 9:8; Psalms 38:10

Footnotes

• [a] In Hebrew texts 19:1-14 is numbered 19:2-15.
• [b] Septuagint, Jerome and Syriac; Hebrew "measuring line"