Corpus Psalterium · Vol. I
Psalm XIX (19)
Composite — Revelation Transition
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 19 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃
The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork.
הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם מְֽסַפְּרִ֥ים כְּבֽוֹד־אֵ֑ל וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דָ֗יו מַגִּ֥יד הָרָקִֽיעַ׃
Day after day they pour out speech, and night after night they display knowledge.
י֣וֹם לְ֭יוֹם יַבִּ֣יעַֽ אֹ֑מֶר וְלַ֥יְלָה לְּ֝לַ֗יְלָה יְחַוֶּה־דָּֽעַת׃
There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.
אֵֽין־אֹ֭מֶר וְאֵ֣ין דְּבָרִ֑ים בְּ֝לִ֗י נִשְׁמָ֥ע קוֹלָֽם׃
Their voice has gone out through all the earth, their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
בְּכָל־הָאָ֨רֶץ ׀ יָ֘צָ֤א קַוָּ֗ם וּבִקְצֵ֣ה תֵ֭בֵל מִלֵּיהֶ֑ם לַ֝שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ שָֽׂם־אֹ֥הֶל בָּהֶֽם׃
which is as a bridegroom coming out of his room, like a strong man rejoicing to run his course.
וְה֗וּא כְּ֭חָתָן יֹצֵ֣א מֵחֻפָּת֑וֹ יָשִׂ֥ישׂ כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר לָר֥וּץ אֹֽרַח׃
His going out is from the end of the heavens, his circuit to its ends. There is nothing hidden from its heat.
מִקְצֵ֤ה הַשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ מֽוֹצָא֗וֹ וּתְקוּפָת֥וֹ עַל־קְצוֹתָ֑ם וְאֵ֥ין נִ֝סְתָּ֗ר מֵֽחַמָּתוֹ׃
Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s covenant is sure, making wise the simple.
תּ֘וֹרַ֤ת יְהוָ֣ה תְּ֭מִימָה מְשִׁ֣יבַת נָ֑פֶשׁ עֵד֥וּת יְהוָ֥ה נֶ֝אֱמָנָ֗ה מַחְכִּ֥ימַת פֶּֽתִי׃
Yahweh’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. Yahweh’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.
פִּקּ֘וּדֵ֤י יְהוָ֣ה יְ֭שָׁרִים מְשַׂמְּחֵי־לֵ֑ב מִצְוַ֥ת יְהוָ֥ה בָּ֝רָ֗ה מְאִירַ֥ת עֵינָֽיִם׃
The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever. Yahweh’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.
יִרְאַ֤ת יְהוָ֨ה ׀ טְהוֹרָה֮ עוֹמֶ֪דֶת לָ֫עַ֥ד מִֽשְׁפְּטֵי־יְהוָ֥ה אֱמֶ֑ת צָֽדְק֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃
They are more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.
הַֽנֶּחֱמָדִ֗ים מִ֭זָּהָב וּמִפַּ֣ז רָ֑ב וּמְתוּקִ֥ים מִ֝דְּבַ֗שׁ וְנֹ֣פֶת צוּפִֽים׃
Moreover your servant is warned by them. In keeping them there is great reward.
גַּֽם־עַ֭בְדְּךָ נִזְהָ֣ר בָּהֶ֑ם בְּ֝שָׁמְרָ֗ם עֵ֣קֶב רָֽב׃
Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors.
שְׁגִיא֥וֹת מִֽי־יָבִ֑ין מִֽנִּסְתָּר֥וֹת נַקֵּֽנִי׃
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I will be upright. I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.
גַּ֤ם מִזֵּדִ֨ים ׀ חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ עַבְדֶּ֗ךָ אַֽל־יִמְשְׁלוּ־בִ֣י אָ֣ז אֵיתָ֑ם וְ֝נִקֵּ֗יתִי מִפֶּ֥שַֽׁע רָֽב׃
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.
יִֽהְי֥וּ לְרָצ֨וֹן ׀ אִמְרֵי־פִ֡י וְהֶגְי֣וֹן לִבִּ֣י לְפָנֶ֑יךָ יְ֝הוָ֗ה צוּרִ֥י וְגֹאֲלִֽי׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
The heavens declare
the glory of God
The sky above
proclaims His work
Day to day
pours out speech
Night to night
reveals knowledge
There is no speech
there are no words
Yet their voice
goes out
through all the earth
Their message
to the ends of the world
In them
He has set a tent for the sun
It rises
like a bridegroom
coming from his chamber
It runs
like a strong man
with joy
on its path
From one end of the heavens
it comes
Its circuit
to the other end
Nothing
is hidden
from its heat
The law of the LORD
is perfect
restoring the soul
The testimony of the LORD
is sure
making wise
the simple
The precepts of the LORD
are right
rejoicing the heart
The commandment of the LORD
is pure
giving light
to the eyes
The fear of the LORD
is clean
enduring forever
The judgments of the LORD
are true
righteous
altogether
More to be desired
than gold
even much fine gold
Sweeter
than honey
dripping
from the comb
By them
Your servant is warned
In keeping them
there is great reward
Who can discern
his errors
Cleanse me
from hidden faults
Keep back Your servant
from willful sins
Let them not
rule over me
Then I will be blameless
Innocent
of great transgression
Let the words of my mouth
Let the words of my mouth
And the meditation
of my heart
be pleasing
be pleasing
in Your sight
O LORD
my rock
and my redeemer
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.