1 To the chief musician; a Psalm of David.
2 The heavens [are] telling the glory of God, and the expanse [is] shewing the work of his hands.
3 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
4 [There is] no speech and [there are] no words; their voice is not heard.
5 In all the earth their line has gone forth, and their speech unto the end of the world; in them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun;
6 And it [is] as a bridegroom going forth from his bridal chamber; it rejoiceth as a mighty man to run a course.
7 From the end of the heavens [is] its going forth, and its circuit unto their ends, and nothing is hidden from its heat.
8 The law of Jehovah [is] perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of Jehovah [is] true, making wise the simple.
9 The precepts of Jehovah [are] right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of Jehovah [is] clear, enlightening the eyes.
10 The fear of Jehovah [is] pure, enduring for ever; the judgments of Jehovah [are] truth, they [are] righteous altogether,
11 To be desired more than gold, and more than much pure gold; and sweeter than honey and the dropping of the honeycomb.
12 Also thy servant is admonished by them, in keeping them [is] great reward.
13 Errors—who discerneth them? cleanse thou me from secret [ones];
14 Also from presumptuous [ones] keep back thy servant; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and be clear from much transgression.
15 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before thee, O Jehovah, my rock and my redeemer.
Notes on Psalm 19
It is inscribed “To the chief musician: a psalm of David.” It is the witness of creation, especially of what is heavenly, and therefore universal. The heavens, with the day, the night, and the sun, bear their testimony for God to all mankind. Here we may note the beautiful propriety of the apostle’s citation in Romans 10 for sovereign indiscriminate mercy in the gospel; as of our Lord in Matthew 5:45,45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45) when enjoining grace to the worst, independently of desert and in contradistinction from legal injunctions. Here therefore “God” only is spoken of. Man is in view.
But there is another testimony to the greater value and more restricted character of the law of Jehovah, which is set out in the rest of this striking psalm. Here not the work of God is in question, but His word Who has covenant with His people on earth. It is the godly man’s estimate of what was divinely given to act on the conscience. Its excellent powers are confessed, not only in its intrinsic qualities but as expressive of God’s nature and authority, and hence above all pleasant and prized. There is needed admonition, God’s people being what and where they are, and serving Him withal. Hence one cannot discern his wanderings, but desires cleansing, and entreats to be kept from what is presumptuous, feeling that secret snares unjudged expose to great transgression, and that what is acceptable to God in word and heart is above all to be cultivated. But if He be rock and Redeemer, why distrust?