Psalm 19/Expanded Paraphrase/Default

Text (Hebrew)	Verse	Text (CBC)
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד	1	For the director. of music, and thus, for the congregation to hear and recite. A psalm. Written By David., the servant of YHWH (cf. Ps 18:1; 19:12-14).
הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם מְֽסַפְּרִ֥ים כְּבֽוֹד־אֵ֑ל	2a	"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen 1:1)—an act which indicates God's supreme honor and immense skill. On the first day of creation, he made day and night. On the second day of creation, he made the firmament, which he named "sky." On the fourth day of creation, God made the sun, moon, and stars to fill the sky and to govern the rhythm of day and night. And not only did God create the world in this way, he also continues to sustain and regulate this created order. One of the clearest examples of the continuation of God's created order is the continuous succession of days and nights (cf. Gen 8:22), which is governed by the movements of the sun, moon and stars in the sky. In this way, The sky is declaring the honor of the one who created it and who sustains it. It is declaring God’s honor,
וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דָ֗יו מַגִּ֥יד הָרָקִֽיעַ׃	2b	and the firmament , a part of the "sky," is telling about the workmanship of his hands. The sky is like a poet recounting in verse the great honor and skill of its creator.
י֣וֹם לְ֭יוֹם יַבִּ֣יעַֽ אֹ֑מֶר	3a	In what way is the sky declaring God's honor and skill? It is Day after day , i.e., the continued rhythm of day to day, that pours out speech,
וְלַ֥יְלָה לְּ֝לַ֗יְלָה יְחַוֶּה־דָּֽעַת׃	3b	and it is night after night that imparts knowledge., a knowledge about God, the creator, the possessor of infinite honor and skill. In other words, the sky communicates God's honor and skill through the orderly succession of days and nights and the consequent movements of the sun, moon, and stars. As we see these celestial bodies move across the sky in perfect order and radiant beauty, we are reminded of the honor and skill of the creator. The "rhythm" of the sky's poem is the rhythm of day and night.
אֵֽין־אֹ֭מֶר וְאֵ֣ין דְּבָרִ֑ים	4a	And the sky's poem is heard by everyone.There is no speech, and there are no words
בְּ֝לִ֗י נִשְׁמָ֥ע קוֹלָֽם׃	4b	whose sound is not being heard. Everyone hears and understands the sky's poem, no matter where they live or what language they speak.
בְּכָל־הָאָ֨רֶץ ׀ יָ֘צָ֤א קַוָּ֗ם	5a	Its verse line has gone forth throughout the whole earth, so that everyone hears this heavenly poem,
וּבִקְצֵ֣ה תֵ֭בֵל מִלֵּיהֶ֑ם	5b	and its words [have gone forth] throughout the edge of the world.
לַ֝שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ שָֽׂם־אֹ֥הֶל בָּהֶֽם׃	5c	The greatest of the sky's lights which governs the passage of time and thus declares God's honor is the sun. The sun lives in the sky, because that is where God placed it. He has set up in it , that is, in the sky, a home for the sun,
וְה֗וּא כְּ֭חָתָן יֹצֵ֣א מֵחֻפָּת֑וֹ	6a	In the morning, the sun wakes up and leaves his tent, his home, with joy, and so he is like newly married a bridegroom , strong and joyful, coming out of his tent. on the morning after his wedding.
יָשִׂ֥ישׂ כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר לָר֥וּץ אֹֽרַח׃	6b	He is glad, like a warrior, to run his course.
מִקְצֵ֤ה הַשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ מֽוֹצָא֗וֹ	7a	His starting point is from the edge of the sky,
וּתְקוּפָת֥וֹ עַל־קְצוֹתָ֑ם	7b	and his turning point is at its edges,
וְאֵ֥ין נִ֝סְתָּ֗ר מֵֽחַמָּתוֹ׃	7c	and nothing is hidden from his heat.
תּ֘וֹרַ֤ת יְהוָ֣ה תְּ֭מִימָה	8a	YHWH’s instruction is perfect,
מְשִׁ֣יבַת נָ֑פֶשׁ	8b	restoring life.
עֵד֥וּת יְהוָ֥ה נֶ֝אֱמָנָ֗ה	8c	YHWH’s testimony is reliable,
מַחְכִּ֥ימַת פֶּֽתִי׃	8d	making simpletons wise.
פִּקּ֘וּדֵ֤י יְהוָ֣ה יְ֭שָׁרִים	9a	YHWH’s commandments are just,
מְשַׂמְּחֵי־לֵ֑ב	9b	causing the heart to rejoice.
מִצְוַ֥ת יְהוָ֥ה בָּ֝רָ֗ה	9c	YHWH’s command is flawless,
מְאִירַ֥ת עֵינָֽיִם׃	9d	giving light to the eyes.
יִרְאַ֤ת יְהוָ֨ה ׀ טְהוֹרָה֮	10a	Fearing YHWH is pure,
עוֹמֶ֪דֶת לָ֫עַ֥ד	10b	enduring forever.
מִֽשְׁפְּטֵי־יְהוָ֥ה אֱמֶ֑ת	10c	YHWH’s rules are true;
צָֽדְק֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃	10d	they are altogether right;
הַֽנֶּחֱמָדִ֗ים מִ֭זָּהָב וּמִפַּ֣ז רָ֑ב	11a	those which are more desirable than gold, even much pure gold,
וּמְתוּקִ֥ים מִ֝דְּבַ֗שׁ וְנֹ֣פֶת צוּפִֽים׃	11b	and sweeter than honey, even virgin honey from the honeycomb.
גַּֽם־עַ֭בְדְּךָ נִזְהָ֣ר בָּהֶ֑ם	12a	Furthermore, your servant is warned by them.
בְּ֝שָׁמְרָ֗ם עֵ֣קֶב רָֽב׃	12b	There is great reward in keeping them.
שְׁגִיא֥וֹת מִֽי־יָבִ֑ין	13a	Who can discern mistakes?
מִֽנִּסְתָּר֥וֹת נַקֵּֽנִי׃	13b	Clear me from the guilt of hidden sins!
גַּ֤ם מִזֵּדִ֨ים ׀ חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ עַבְדֶּ֗ךָ	14a	Also, prevent your servant from committing presumptuous sins!
אַֽל־יִמְשְׁלוּ־בִ֣י	14b	Do not let them rule over me!
אָ֣ז אֵיתָ֑ם	14c	Then I will be blameless
וְ֝נִקֵּ֗יתִי מִפֶּ֥שַׁע רָֽב׃	14d	and innocent of great crime.
יִֽהְי֥וּ לְרָצ֨וֹן ׀ אִמְרֵי־פִ֡י	15a	Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
וְהֶגְי֣וֹן לִבִּ֣י לְפָנֶ֑יךָ	15b	be acceptable before you,
יְ֝הוָ֗ה צוּרִ֥י וְגֹאֲלִֽי׃	15c	YHWH, my rock and my redeemer!