Psalms 19:9-14

19:9 The commands to fear the Lord are right ¹ 

and endure forever. ² 

The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy

and absolutely just. ³ 

19:10 They are of greater value ⁴  than gold,

than even a great amount of pure gold;

they bring greater delight ⁵  than honey,

than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.

19:11 Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there; ⁶ 

those who obey them receive a rich reward. ⁷ 

19:12 Who can know all his errors? ⁸ 

Please do not punish me for sins I am unaware of. ⁹ 

19:13 Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant ¹⁰  sins;

do not allow such sins to control me. ¹¹ 

Then I will be blameless,

and innocent of blatant ¹²  rebellion.

19:14 May my words and my thoughts

be acceptable in your sight, ¹³ 

O Lord, my sheltering rock ¹⁴  and my redeemer. ¹⁵ 

[19:9]  ¹ 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.

[19:9]  ² tn Heb “[it] stands permanently.”

[19:9]  ³ 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.

[19:10]  ⁴ tn Heb “more desirable.”

[19:10]  ⁵ tn Heb “are sweeter.” God’s law is “sweet’ in the sense that, when obeyed, it brings a great reward (see v. 11b).

[19:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “moreover your servant is warned by them.”

[19:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “in the keeping of them [there is] a great reward.”

[19:12]  ⁸ tn Heb “Errors who can discern?” This rhetorical question makes the point that perfect moral discernment is impossible to achieve. Consequently it is inevitable that even those with good intentions will sin on occasion.

[19:12]  ⁹ tn Heb “declare me innocent from hidden [things],” i.e., sins. In this context (see the preceding line) “hidden” sins are not sins committed in secret, but sins which are not recognized as such by the psalmist.

[19:13]  ¹⁰ tn Or “presumptuous.”

[19:13]  ¹¹ tn Heb “let them not rule over me.”

[19:13]  ¹² tn Heb “great.”

[19:14]  ¹³ tn Heb “may the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart be acceptable before you.” The prefixed verbal form at the beginning of the verse is understood as a jussive of prayer. Another option is to translate the form as an imperfect continuing the thought of v. 14b: “[Then] the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart will be acceptable before you.”

[19:14]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “my rocky cliff,” which is a metaphor for protection; thus the translation “sheltering rock.”

[19:14]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “and the one who redeems me.” The metaphor casts the Lord in the role of a leader who protects members of his extended family in times of need and crisis.