Logos Bible Study

Psalm 19:7–14

The NET BibleOther versions

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19:7The law of the Lord is perfect

and preserves one’s life.20

The rules set down by the Lord21 are reliable22

and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.23

19:8The Lord’s precepts are fair24

and make one joyful.25

The Lord’s commands26 are pure27

and give insight for life.28

19:9The commands to fear the Lord are right29

and endure forever.30

The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy

and absolutely just.31

19:10They are of greater value32 than gold,

than even a great amount of pure gold;

they bring greater delight33 than honey,

than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.

19:11Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there;34

those who obey them receive a rich reward.35

19:12Who can know all his errors?36

Please do not punish me for sins I am unaware of.37

19:13Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant38 sins;

do not allow such sins to control me.39

Then I will be blameless,

and innocent of blatant40 rebellion.

19:14May my words and my thoughts

be acceptable in your sight,41

O Lord, my sheltering rock42 and my redeemer.43

Read in Logos
Psalm 19:7: The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple …

Footnotes

  1. 20 Heb “[it] restores life.” Elsewhere the Hiphil of שׁוּב (shuv, “return”) when used with נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “life”) as object, means to “rescue or preserve one’s life” (Job 33:30; Ps 35:17) or to “revive one’s strength” (emotionally or physically; cf. Ruth 4:15; Lam 1:11, 16, 19). Here the point seems to be that the law preserves the life of the one who studies it by making known God’s will. Those who know God’s will know how to please him and can avoid offending him. See v. 11a.
  2. 21 Traditionally, “the testimony of the Lord.” The noun עֵדוּת (’edut) refers here to the demands of God’s covenant law.
  3. 22 God’s covenant contains a clear, reliable witness to his moral character and demands.
  4. 23 Or “the [morally] naive,” that is, the one who is young and still in the process of learning right from wrong and distinguishing wisdom from folly.
  5. 24 Or “just.” Perhaps the idea is that they impart a knowledge of what is just and right.
  6. 25 Heb “[they] make happy [the] heart.” Perhaps the point is that they bring a sense of joyful satisfaction to the one who knows and keeps them, for those who obey God’s law are richly rewarded. See v. 11b.
  7. 26 Heb “command.” The singular here refers to the law as a whole.
  8. 27 Because they reflect God’s character, his commands provide a code of moral and ethical purity.
  9. 28 Heb [they] enlighten [the] eyes.
  10. 29 Heb “the fear of the Lord is clean.” The phrase “fear of the Lord” probably refers here to the law, which teaches one how to demonstrate proper reverence for the Lord. See Ps 111:10 for another possible use of the phrase in this sense.
  11. 30 Heb “[it] stands permanently.”
  12. 31 Trustworthy and absolutely just. The Lord’s commands accurately reflect God’s moral will for his people and are an expression of his just character.
  13. 32 Heb “more desirable.”
  14. 33 Heb “are sweeter.” God’s law is “sweet’ in the sense that, when obeyed, it brings a great reward (see v. 11b).
  15. 34 Heb “moreover your servant is warned by them.”
  16. 35 Heb “in the keeping of them [there is] a great reward.”
  17. 36 Heb “Errors who can discern?” This rhetorical question makes the point that perfect moral discernment is impossible to achieve. Consequently it is inevitable that even those with good intentions will sin on occasion.
  18. 37 Heb “declare me innocent from hidden [things],” i.e., sins. In this context (see the preceding line) “hidden” sins are not sins committed in secret, but sins which are not recognized as such by the psalmist.
  19. 38 Or “presumptuous.”
  20. 39 Heb “let them not rule over me.”
  21. 40 Heb “great.”
  22. 41 Heb “may the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart be acceptable before you.” The prefixed verbal form at the beginning of the verse is understood as a jussive of prayer. Another option is to translate the form as an imperfect continuing the thought of v. 14b: “[Then] the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart will be acceptable before you.”
  23. 42 Heb “my rocky cliff,” which is a metaphor for protection; thus the translation “sheltering rock.”
  24. 43 Heb “and the one who redeems me.” The metaphor casts the Lord in the role of a leader who protects members of his extended family in times of need and crisis.

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The law of the Lord is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure,

making wise the simple;

the precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever;

the rules of the Lord are true,

and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey

and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can discern his errors?

Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;

let them not have dominion over me!

Then I shall be blameless,

and innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

The law of the Lord is perfect,

refreshing the soul.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure,

enduring forever.

The decrees of the Lord are firm,

and all of them are righteous.

They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the honeycomb.

By them your servant is warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

But who can discern their own errors?

Forgive my hidden faults.

Keep your servant also from willful sins;

may they not rule over me.

Then I will be blameless,

innocent of great transgression.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The instruction of the Lord is perfect,

renewing one’s life;

the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy,

making the inexperienced wise.

The precepts of the Lord are right,

making the heart glad;

the command of the Lord is radiant,

making the eyes light up.

The fear of the Lord is pure,

enduring forever;

the ordinances of the Lord are reliable

and altogether righteous.

They are more desirable than gold—

than an abundance of pure gold;

and sweeter than honey

dripping from a honeycomb.

In addition, your servant is warned by them,

and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.

Who perceives his unintentional sins?

Cleanse me from my hidden faults.

Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins;

do not let them rule me.

Then I will be blameless

and cleansed from blatant rebellion.

May the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable to you,

Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

The instructions of the Lord are perfect,

reviving the soul.

The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

The commandments of the Lord are right,

bringing joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are clear,

giving insight for living.

Reverence for the Lord is pure,

lasting forever.

The laws of the Lord are true;

each one is fair.

They are more desirable than gold,

even the finest gold.

They are sweeter than honey,

even honey dripping from the comb.

They are a warning to your servant,

a great reward for those who obey them.

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?

Cleanse me from these hidden faults.

Keep your servant from deliberate sins!

Don’t let them control me.

Then I will be free of guilt

and innocent of great sin.

May the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing to you,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

The law of Yahweh is perfect, reviving life.

The testimony of Yahweh is firm, making wise the simple.

The precepts of Yahweh are right, making the heart rejoice.

The command of Yahweh is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of Yahweh is pure, enduring forever.

The ordinances of Yahweh are true; they are righteous altogether,

more desirable than gold, even much fine gold;

and sweeter than honey, even honey in the comb.

Moreover, your servant is warned by them;

in keeping them is great reward.

Who can perceive his errors?

Acquit me from hidden faults.

Also, keep back your servant from arrogant sins;

let them not rule over me.

Then I shall be blameless,

and I shall be innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your presence,

O Yahweh, my rock and my redeemer.

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:

The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned:

And in keeping of them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors?

Cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins;

Let them not have dominion over me:

Then shall I be upright,

And I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth,

And the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight,

O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Public Domain