Psalm 19

God’s Works and Word

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

19The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the skies announce what his hands have made.

²Day after day they tell the story;

night after night they tell it again.

³They have no speech or words;

they have no voice to be heard.

⁴But their message goes out through all the world;

their words go everywhere on earth.

The sky is like a home for the sun.

⁵The sun comes out like a bridegroom from his bedroom.

It rejoices like an athlete eager to run a race.

⁶The sun rises at one end of the sky

and follows its path to the other end.

Nothing hides from its heat.

⁷The teachings of the Lord are perfect;

they give new strength.

The rules of the Lord can be trusted;

they make plain people wise.

⁸The orders of the Lord are right;

they make people happy.

The commands of the Lord are pure;

they light up the way.

⁹Respect for the Lord is good;

it will last forever.

The judgments of the Lord are true;

they are completely right.

¹⁰They are worth more than gold,

even the purest gold.

They are sweeter than honey,

even the finest honey.

¹¹By them your servant is warned.

Keeping them brings great reward.

¹²People cannot see their own mistakes.

Forgive me for my secret sins.

¹³Keep me from the sins of pride;

don’t let them rule me.

Then I can be pure

and innocent of the greatest of sins.

¹⁴I hope my words and thoughts please you.

Lord, you are my Rock, the one who saves me.