Psalm 19 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
More Psalms Chapter 19 Continued Below
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 19:14
Verse: יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי-פִי
Transliteration: Yihyu l’ratzon imrei-fi
English: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord.”
Focus Word: רָצוֹן (Ratzon)
- Root: ר-צ-נ (Resh-Tsade-Nun)
- Meaning: “Pleasure,” “favor,” “acceptance.”
- Deeper Insight: Hebrew ratzon conveys delight or satisfaction from God. The prayer asks for alignment of speech and thought with His will.
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 19 |
|---|---|---|
| John Lightfoot (Jesus College, Cambridge, 1602–1675) | Commentarius Hebraicus in Psalmos | Lightfoot sees Psalm 19 as revealing God’s glory through both creation and the perfection of His law. |
| Matthew Henry (Christ Church, Oxford, 1662–1714) | Exposition of the Old and New Testament | Henry emphasizes the dual witness of creation and Scripture, showing God’s wisdom and moral instruction. |
| Richard Sibbes (Pembroke College, Cambridge, 1577–1635) | The Bruised Reed | Sibbes highlights the moral and spiritual perfection revealed in God’s law, calling the believer to obedience. |
| John Owen (University of Oxford, 1616–1683) | A Commentary on the Psalms | Owen stresses the instructive power of Scripture to convert the soul and guide life. |
| Thomas Manton (Christ’s College, Cambridge, 1620–1677) | Exposition of the Psalms | Manton emphasizes both God’s glory in creation and the life-transforming authority of His law. |
| Scholar & Work | View |
|---|---|
| Thomas Chalmers – Sermons & Scripture Discourses | Chalmers views this psalm as a grand movement from God’s revelation in nature to His revelation in the Law. The heavens preach without speech, yet convey divine majesty with compelling clarity. The psalmist’s delight in the Law reveals that moral revelation surpasses even the glories of creation. |
| Edward Young – Night Thoughts & Biblical Essays | Young emphasizes the sublime character of creation’s witness to God. He sees the psalm’s second half as a celebration of the soul’s restoration through divine precepts. The final prayer for purity underscores humanity’s need for inward cleansing. |
| William Wordsworth – The Holy Bible with Notes (poet-commentator) | Wordsworth admires the poetic unity of the psalm as moving from cosmic grandeur to intimate moral instruction. The sun’s course symbolizes the vitality of divine truth. The Law is portrayed as both enlightening and sanctifying. |
| Isaac Taylor – Spirit of the Hebrew Poetry | Taylor highlights the psalm’s artistry in depicting nature as an evangelist. He stresses the completeness of the Law in refreshing the soul. The psalmist’s plea for cleansing points to the moral power of divine illumination. |
| John Keble – The Christian Year (with Psalm Notes) | Keble reads the psalm as a liturgical celebration of God’s two books: Nature and Scripture. Creation’s speech prepares the heart to receive God’s Law. The prayer for the acceptance of words and meditations reveals humble devotion. |
| J. Oswald Dykes – OT Sermons | Dykes emphasizes how creation’s testimony is universal and irresistible. The Law’s descriptions—perfect, sure, right—present divine truth as restorative. The concluding petition reflects the psalmist’s yearning for holiness. |
| C. J. Ellicott – Old Testament Commentary (Vol. Psalms) | Ellicott highlights the precision of the Hebrew parallelism. Nature’s revelation is glorious but incomplete, fulfilled by the clarity of the Law. The psalm concludes with moral self-examination before God. |
| J. A. Beet – Biblical and Expository Writings | Beet sees creation as revealing God’s power, while the Law reveals His character. The psalmist’s joy in the Law is the joy of spiritual awakening. The final prayer displays the humility required to live under divine instruction. |
| William Binnie – Additional Notes | Binnie sees this psalm as uniting natural theology with revealed theology. The sun’s imagery expresses God’s glory permeating all existence. The Law’s purity reflects God’s moral perfection. |
| J. G. Murphy – Commentary on the Psalms | Murphy emphasizes that nature declares God’s existence and glory, while the Law teaches His will. He highlights the psalm’s movement from majesty to morality. The desire to be kept from secret and presumptuous sins shows mature piety. |
Prayer: Thank you Father for your goodness, and for your tender mercies that you have toward us. We ask You Lord to be with us, guide us, strengthen us and protect us. It's on You O Lord by which we depend. Thank you Lord for your creation and for revealing your glory unto us through the heavens and through the Gospel. Glorify your Name in all the earth and be exalted O God as Lord over all. We thank you and honor you in Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen!
