The Works and the Word of God.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

19 The (A)heavens tell of the glory of God;
And their (B)expanse declares the work of His hands.
Day to (C)day pours forth speech,
And (D)night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
Their [a](E)line has gone out into all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
In them He has (F)placed a tent for the sun,
Which is like a groom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices like a strong person to run his course.
Its (G)rising is from [b]one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the [c]other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

(H)The Law of the Lord is [d](I)perfect, (J)restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is (K)sure, making (L)wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are (M)right, (N)rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is (O)pure, (P)enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are (Q)true; they are (R)righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than (S)gold, yes, than much pure gold;
(T)Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, (U)Your servant is warned by them;
In keeping them there is great (V)reward.
12 Who can (W)discern his errors? (X)Acquit me of (Y)hidden faults.
13 Also keep Your servant back (Z)from presumptuous sins;
Let them not (AA)rule over me;
Then I will be (AB)innocent,
And I will be blameless of (AC)great wrongdoing.
14 May the words of my mouth and (AD)the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
Lord, (AE)my rock and my (AF)Redeemer.

Prayer for Victory over Enemies.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

20 May the Lord answer you (AG)on a day of trouble!
May the (AH)name of the (AI)God of Jacob [e]protect you!
May He send you help (AJ)from the sanctuary,
And (AK)support you from Zion!
May He (AL)remember all your meal offerings
And [f](AM)accept your burnt offering! Selah

May He grant you your (AN)heart’s desire
And (AO)fulfill your whole plan!
[g]We will (AP)sing for joy over your [h]victory,
And in the name of our God we will (AQ)set up our banners.
May the Lord (AR)fulfill all your desires.

Now (AS)I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will (AT)answer him from His holy heaven
With the [i](AU)saving strength of His right hand.
Some praise their chariots and some their (AV)horses,
But (AW)we will praise the name of the Lord, our God.
They have (AX)bowed down and fallen,
But we have (AY)risen and stood upright.
[j](AZ)Save, Lord;
May the (BA)King answer us on the day we call.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 19:4 Another reading is sound
  2. Psalm 19:6 Lit the end
  3. Psalm 19:6 Lit the ends
  4. Psalm 19:7 I.e., blameless
  5. Psalm 20:1 Lit make you high and inaccessible
  6. Psalm 20:3 Lit consider your...as fat
  7. Psalm 20:5 Or Let’s sing
  8. Psalm 20:5 Or salvation
  9. Psalm 20:6 Or mighty deeds of the victory of His right hand
  10. Psalm 20:9 Or O Lord, save the king; answer us

Psalm 19[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The heavens(A) declare(B) the glory of God;(C)
    the skies(D) proclaim the work of his hands.(E)
Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.(F)
They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.(G)
In the heavens God has pitched a tent(H) for the sun.(I)
    It is like a bridegroom(J) coming out of his chamber,(K)
    like a champion(L) rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens(M)
    and makes its circuit to the other;(N)
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The law of the Lord(O) is perfect,(P)
    refreshing the soul.(Q)
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,(R)
    making wise the simple.(S)
The precepts of the Lord are right,(T)
    giving joy(U) to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.(V)
The fear of the Lord(W) is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.(X)

10 They are more precious than gold,(Y)
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,(Z)
    than honey from the honeycomb.(AA)
11 By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults.(AB)
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;(AC)
    may they not rule over me.(AD)
Then I will be blameless,(AE)
    innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing(AF) in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock(AG) and my Redeemer.(AH)

Psalm 20[c]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;(AI)
    may the name of the God of Jacob(AJ) protect you.(AK)
May he send you help(AL) from the sanctuary(AM)
    and grant you support(AN) from Zion.(AO)
May he remember(AP) all your sacrifices
    and accept your burnt offerings.[d](AQ)
May he give you the desire of your heart(AR)
    and make all your plans succeed.(AS)
May we shout for joy(AT) over your victory
    and lift up our banners(AU) in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.(AV)

Now this I know:
    The Lord gives victory to his anointed.(AW)
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
    with the victorious power of his right hand.(AX)
Some trust in chariots(AY) and some in horses,(AZ)
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.(BA)
They are brought to their knees and fall,(BB)
    but we rise up(BC) and stand firm.(BD)
Lord, give victory to the king!
    Answer us(BE) when we call!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 19:1 In Hebrew texts 19:1-14 is numbered 19:2-15.
  2. Psalm 19:4 Septuagint, Jerome and Syriac; Hebrew measuring line
  3. Psalm 20:1 In Hebrew texts 20:1-9 is numbered 20:2-10.
  4. Psalm 20:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.