Psalms 19

1 To the Overseer. — A Psalm of David. The heavens [are] recounting the honour of God, And the work of His hands The expanse [is] declaring.

For the music director. A psalm of David. The heavens declare God's glory; the skies above announce what he has made.

2 Day to day uttereth speech, And night to night sheweth knowledge.

Each day speaks constantly about God's glory to the next day; each night shares knowledge of God with the next night.

3 There is no speech, and there are no words. Their voice hath not been heard.

They speak without speech or words; their voice is not audible;

4 Into all the earth hath their line gone forth, And to the end of the world their sayings, For the sun He placed a tent in them,

Yet what they say is heard all over the earth; their message goes to the whole world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.

5 And he, as a bridegroom, goeth out from his covering, He rejoiceth as a mighty one To run the path.

It's like a bridegroom coming out of his room, like a fit athlete happy to run a race.

6 From the end of the heavens [is] his going out, And his revolution [is] unto their ends, And nothing is hid from his heat.

It rises on one side of the heavens and travels across to the other. Nothing is hidden from its heat.

7 The law of Jehovah [is] perfect, refreshing the soul, The testimonies of Jehovah [are] stedfast, Making wise the simple,

The Lord's law is beneficial, renewing spiritual life. The Lord's teaching is trustworthy, making inexperienced people wise.

8 The precepts of Jehovah [are] upright, Rejoicing the heart, The command of Jehovah [is] pure, enlightening the eyes,

The Lord's instructions are right, making people glad. The Lord's commandments are sincere, helping people see what is good.

9 The fear of Jehovah [is] clean, standing to the age, The judgments of Jehovah [are] true, They have been righteous — together.

Reverence for the Lord is right, and lasts forever. The Lord's judgments are both true and fair.

10 They are more desirable than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; and sweeter than honey, Even liquid honey of the comb.

They are more to be valued than gold, even the finest gold; they are sweeter than honey, even the purest honey coming straight from the honeycomb.

11 Also — Thy servant is warned by them, 'In keeping them [is] a great reward.'

They also warn your servant. By keeping them I'm richly rewarded.

12 Errors! who doth understand? From hidden ones declare me innocent,

Who's aware of their own mistakes? Don't punish me for these faults I'm unaware of.

13 Also — from presumptuous ones keep back Thy servant, Let them not rule over me, Then am I perfect, And declared innocent of much transgression,

Don't let your servant commit deliberate sins. Don't let them rule over me. Then I will be without fault, innocent of such rebellion.

14 Let the sayings of my mouth, And the meditation of my heart, Be for a pleasing thing before Thee, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer!

May you be pleased with the words I speak, and the thoughts I think, Lord my rock and my redeemer.