Psalms 19:8-11

19:8 The Lord’s precepts are fair ¹ 

and make one joyful. ² 

The Lord’s commands ³  are pure ⁴ 

and give insight for life. ⁵ 

19:9 The commands to fear the Lord are right ⁶ 

and endure forever. ⁷ 

The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy

and absolutely just. ⁸ 

19:10 They are of greater value ⁹  than gold,

than even a great amount of pure gold;

they bring greater delight ¹⁰  than honey,

than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.

19:11 Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there; ¹¹ 

those who obey them receive a rich reward. ¹² 

¹ tn Or “just.” Perhaps the idea is that they impart a knowledge of what is just and right.

² tn Heb “[they] make happy [the] heart.” Perhaps the point is that they bring a sense of joyful satisfaction to the one who knows and keeps them, for those who obey God’s law are richly rewarded. See v. 11b.

³ tn Heb “command.” The singular here refers to the law as a whole.

⁴ tn Because they reflect God’s character, his commands provide a code of moral and ethical purity.

⁵ tn Heb [they] enlighten [the] eyes.

⁶ tn Heb “the fear of the Lord is clean.” The phrase “fear of the Lord” probably refers here to the law, which teaches one how to demonstrate proper reverence for the Lord. See Ps 111:10 for another possible use of the phrase in this sense.

⁷ tn Heb “[it] stands permanently.”

⁸ sn Trustworthy and absolutely just. The Lord’s commands accurately reflect God’s moral will for his people and are an expression of his just character.

⁹ tn Heb “more desirable.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “are sweeter.” God’s law is “sweet’ in the sense that, when obeyed, it brings a great reward (see v. 11b).

¹¹ tn Heb “moreover your servant is warned by them.”

¹² tn Heb “in the keeping of them [there is] a great reward.”