Psalm 19/Translation/PTS/3

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Internalize

This step helps with absorbing the big picture of the psalm.

The heavens speak

Speech and communication in vv.1-4

In v.1, the Psalmist speaks about the heavens declaring and the sky telling...

  • Write on a board all the ways you in your language that you refer to speaking and communication -declaring, proclaiming, shouting, whispering, saying, informing etc… Include any figurative language or ideophones that you can think of.
  • Listen to vv.1-4 and identify all the different words, expressions and images in vv.1-4 which refer to speaking and communication.
  • In v.1, what two things do the heavens and the sky say about God?
  • In v.3, the Psalmist says that the heavens do not have speech nor words and that their voice cannot actually be heard. He seems to say the opposite thing in vv.1-2 and in v.4. How do you make sense of what he is saying?
  • In vv.1-4 if the heavens have no actual speech or words, where are actual words from God to be found later in the psalm? (YHWH's law, vv.7-9.)

In praise of the sun

In v.5, the Psalmist compares the sun to a bridegroom coming out from his chamber and to a champion, or mighty man, who rejoices to run his course. In v.6, he goes on to describe the movement of the sun across the heaven.

"Like the Sun" Poetic Feature
  • In what way is the sun like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber? (splendor, glory)
  • What does a champion or a warrior rejoice about when he runs his course? (power)
  • What is it about the sun's movement across the sky that the Psalmist especially wants to emphasise? (reach, nothing escapes heat)


For more information on the poetic use of sun imagery in Psalm 19, see the "Like the Sun" Poetic Feature.

Activity. A mime drama about the sun

Act out a drama with four short scenes to describe the sun.

  • The sun like a bridegroom coming out from his chamber in splendour,
  • The sun like a champion rejoicing in his strength to run his course,
  • The sun going from one end of the heavens to the other. (One way of acting this might be to use your arms to show the way the sun crosses the sky.)
  • And finally, the heat of the sun reaching everything. (You could use your arms again to show the way the heat of the sun spreads out everywhere).

YHWH's law (vv.7-9)

In vv.7-9, did you notice that in each line he says that each thing is of YHWH - it is the law of YHWH, the testimony of YHWH, the precepts of YHWH, the commandment of YHWH, the fear of YHWH and the judgments of YHWH?

Activity. YHWH's law and YHWH himself

Read out vv.7-9 for the group to hear. After each line the group should try giving the sense in their own language but replacing the term for the law with a phrase to indicate YHWH himself.

  • Start in v.7a with YHWH himself is blameless reviving the soul, then continue through the other lines in the same way.
  • In v.9a, the group can just change the phrase the fear of YHWH to the fear of YHWH himself
  • When you think about YHWH as the one who gives the law and reveals himself in the law, how does it change the way you feel about the law?

The rhythm of vv.7-9

"Complete Revelation" Poetic Feature

In vv.7-9, listen to the way that the lines follow the same rhythm or pattern. Listen for the slight change in rhythm in the last line which brings the set of 6 lines to an end.

  • YHWH’s instruction is perfect, restoring life.
  • YHWH’s testimony is reliable, making simpletons wise.
  • YHWH’s commandments are just, causing the heart to rejoice.
  • YHWH’s command is flawless, giving light to the eyes.
  • Fearing YHWH is pure, enduring forever.
  • YHWH’s rules are true; they are altogether right.


For more information on the poetic pattern of this section, see the "Complete Revelation" Poetic Feature.

Activity - Search for a pattern

See if you can identify a good pattern or rhythm in your language which will sound good for these 6 lines. (This will help in your oral translation of the psalm in the next step.)

Translating YHWH's law

Drawing on the introduction to the meaning of the different terms towards the end of Step 2, try and decide on the way you will translate the terms in your language.

Activity - find a rendering for each term

  • As you look at the meaning for each term - put your rendering of the term in your language on a board.
  • The terms law, testimony, command, and fear are all singular in the Hebrew text. The singular is important because it means the Psalmist is talking about the different things in an all-embracing way.
  • The terms precepts and judgments (which we take to refer to his just laws) are both masculine and plural. The plural is important because each is referring to a group of specific things which together describe YHWH's law.

In praise of YHWH's law (vv.10-11)

Listen again to the ways in which the Psalmist praises the YHWH's judgments, his just laws, in vv.10-11. He praises them - and by extension YHWH's law as a whole - in 3 different ways.

  • In v.10a, he says that they are more desirable than gold and then intensifies the comparison by adding than much fine gold.
  • In v.10b, he says they are sweeter than honey and again intensifies the comparison by adding than drippings from the comb.
  • In v.11, he adds something different when he says by them is your servant warned and then along with the warning they contain, in keeping them there is great reward.


Activity. A mime drama about YHWH's judgments

Act out another drama with words to show how desirable and how sweet are YHWH's judgments.

  • For v.10a, take out an imaginary piece of gold from your pocket and place it on a table to indicate how desirable they are. Intensify the comparison by taking out many pieces of imaginary fine gold from all your pockets and from your bag to pile on top of the first piece of gold.
  • For v.10b, dip your finger in an imaginary pot of honey and put it to your tongue to show how sweet they are. Intensify the comparison by lifting up an imaginary honeycomb and catch the drippings falling into your mouth.
  • For v.11a-b, mime the action of receiving a warning by them and of finding a great reward in keeping them.

YHWH's servant

What are the two kinds of sins which the Psalmist is concerned about in vv.12-13?

  • What is the difference between these two kinds of sin?
  • Make a list of hidden sins on one side of a board and of wilful sins on the other side.
  • What desire does he express in v.12 and then repeat in v.13?

The servant's final prayer

Read v.14 in the Hebrew-mirror translation and then perform a mime to express the Psalmist's request with gestures.