Psalm 19

"Nothing is Hidden"

Purpose: To pray for blamelessness

Content: YHWH, make me blameless (vv. 12-15)! Your glorious perfection, seen in the sky (vv. 2-7) and in your covenant instruction (vv. 8-11), exposes my sin and my need for blamelessness.

Message: In order to be blameless and acceptable, YHWH's people need both his instruction and his redemption.

Author: David

Banner Image: Psalm 19 banner image.jpg
Banner Text: Nothing Is Hidden
First Exposure: In Psalm 19 David looks up at the flaming sun in the sky, feels its warmth, and proclaims, nothing is hidden from its heat!

Immediately after he then begins to speak about the Torah, YHWH's instruction. He says, YHWH's instruction is perfect, restoring life.

So what is Psalm 19 about? The sun or the Torah?

Some have argued that there is no connection between these two themes, and Psalm 19 was originally two psalms which were later combined. But what if it is about both? What if the connection between the sun and the Torah is the key that unlocks the whole psalm?

Videos

Exegetical Issues Video

This page is a placeholder for filenames.

Overview Script: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQA8eB0chA6RJ8OLEkxo5O_-sKdWm0L4n5VVK90PKRnVtJSDiffXLYv7Psfylc6qAn3H6iISturADhy/pub
Overview Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vT1l8WvALp4F01m633XXGNEQG8mKH4lGFZnADTour_izldMijqtQCqFQvliHL6HfHghGqiSUS0jfsuQ/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000

This page is a placeholder for image names.

Story Behind Assumptions Table: Psalm 019 - Assumptions Table.jpg
Story Behind Summary: Psalm 019 - Story overview.jpg
Background Situation: Psalm 019 - Story background.jpg
Story Trianges: Psalm 019 - Story behind.jpg

Overview

Translation

Click 'Expand' to the right to see our Close-but-Clear translation of Psalm 19.

Expand

1. For the director. A psalm. By David.

2. The sky is declaring God’s honor,

and the firmament is telling about the workmanship of his hands.

3. Day after day pours out speech,

and night after night imparts knowledge.

4. There is no speech, and there are no words

whose sound is not being heard.

5. Its verse line has gone forth throughout the whole earth,

and its words [have gone forth] throughout the edge of the world.

6. He has set up in it a home for the sun,

and he is like a bridegroom coming out of his tent.

He is glad, like a warrior, to run his course.

7. His starting point is from the edge of the sky,

and his turning point is at its edges,

and nothing is hidden from his heat.

8. YHWH’s instruction is perfect, restoring life.

YHWH’s testimony is reliable, making simpletons wise.

9. YHWH’s commandments are just, causing the heart to rejoice.

YHWH’s command is flawless, giving light to the eyes.

10. Fearing YHWH is pure, enduring forever.

YHWH’s rules are true; they are altogether right;

11. those which are more desirable than gold, even much pure gold,

and sweeter than honey, even virgin honey from the honeycomb.

12. Furthermore, your servant is warned by them.

There is great reward in keeping them.

13. Who can discern mistakes?

Clear me from the guilt of hidden sins!

14. Also, prevent your servant from committing presumptuous sins!

Do not let them rule over me! Then I will be blameless

and innocent of great crime.

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

be acceptable before you,

YHWH, my rock and my redeemer!

The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.

For links to other translations of Psalm 19, click here.

Verse-by-Verse

Click the link to view all of Psalm 19 Verse-by-Verse, or click on an individual verse below.

• v. 1
• v. 2
• v. 3
• v. 4
• v. 5
• v. 6
• v. 7
• v. 8
• v. 9
• v. 10
• v. 11
• v. 12
• v. 13
• v. 14
• v. 15

Layer-by-Layer

Psalm Overview

• Grammar
• Semantics
• Story behind the Psalm
• Discourse
• Poetics

Exegetical Issues

The Unity of Ps 19

The Text and Meaning of Ps 19:5a

The Meaning of זֵדִים in Ps 19:14

Guardian: Ryan Sikes