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For the director of music. A psalm of David.

19 The heavens tell about the glory of God.
    The skies show that his hands created them.
Day after day they speak about it.
    Night after night they make it known.
But they don’t speak or use words.
    No sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into the whole earth.
    Their words go out from one end of the world to the other.

God has set up a tent in the heavens for the sun.
    The sun is like a groom leaving the room of his wedding night.
    The sun is like a great runner who takes delight in running a race.
It rises at one end of the heavens.
    Then it moves across to the other end.
    Everything enjoys its warmth.

The law of the Lord is perfect.
    It gives us new strength.
The laws of the Lord can be trusted.
    They make childish people wise.
The rules of the Lord are right.
    They give joy to our hearts.
The commands of the Lord shine brightly.
    They give light to our minds.
The law that brings respect for the Lord is pure.
    It lasts forever.
The commands the Lord gives are true.
    All of them are completely right.
10 They are more priceless than gold.
    They have greater value than huge amounts of pure gold.
They are sweeter than honey
    that is taken from the honeycomb.
11 Your servant is warned by them.
    When people obey them, they are greatly rewarded.

12 But who can know their own mistakes?
    Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Also keep me from the sins I want to commit.
    May they not be my master.
Then I will be without blame.
    I will not be guilty of any great sin against your law.

14 Lord, may these words of my mouth please you.
And may these thoughts of my heart please you also.
    You are my Rock and my Redeemer.

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

20 May the Lord answer you when you are in trouble.
    May the God of Jacob keep you safe.
May he send you help from the sacred tent.
    May he give you aid from Zion.
May he remember all your sacrifices.
    May he accept your burnt offerings.
May he give you what your heart wishes for.
    May he make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy over your victory.
    May we lift up our flags in the name of our God.
    May the Lord give you everything you ask for.

Now I know that the Lord gives victory to his anointed king.
    He answers him from his sacred home in heaven.
    The power of God’s right hand gives victory to the king.
Some trust in chariots. Some trust in horses.
    But we trust in the Lord our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall down.
    But we get up and stand firm.

Lord, give victory to the king!
    Answer us when we call out to you!

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

21 Lord, the king is filled with joy because you are strong.
    How great is his joy because you help him win his battles!
You have given him what his heart wished for.
    You haven’t kept back from him what his lips asked for.
You came to greet him with rich blessings.
    You placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him.
    You promised him days that would never end.
His glory is great because you helped him win his battles.
    You have honored him with glory and majesty.
You have given him blessings that will never end.
    You have made him glad and joyful because you are with him.

The king trusts in the Lord.
    The faithful love of the Most High God
    will keep the king secure.

You, the king, will capture all your enemies.
    Your right hand will take hold of them.
When you appear for battle,
    you will burn them up like they were in a flaming furnace.
The Lord will swallow them up in his great anger.
    His fire will burn them up.
10 You will wipe their children from the face of the earth.
    You will remove them from the human race.
11 Your enemies make evil plans against you.
    They think up evil things to do. But they can’t succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs and run away
    when you aim your arrows at them.

13 Lord, may you be honored because you are strong.
    We will sing and praise your might.

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!

Psalm 21[e]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.(BF)
    How great is his joy in the victories you give!(BG)

You have granted him his heart’s desire(BH)
    and have not withheld the request of his lips.[f]
You came to greet him with rich blessings
    and placed a crown of pure gold(BI) on his head.(BJ)
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
    length of days, for ever and ever.(BK)
Through the victories(BL) you gave, his glory is great;
    you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.(BM)
Surely you have granted him unending blessings
    and made him glad with the joy(BN) of your presence.(BO)
For the king trusts in the Lord;(BP)
    through the unfailing love(BQ) of the Most High(BR)
    he will not be shaken.(BS)

Your hand will lay hold(BT) on all your enemies;
    your right hand will seize your foes.
When you appear for battle,
    you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
    and his fire will consume them.(BU)
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
    their posterity from mankind.(BV)
11 Though they plot evil(BW) against you
    and devise wicked schemes,(BX) they cannot succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs(BY)
    when you aim at them with drawn bow.

13 Be exalted(BZ) in your strength, Lord;(CA)
    we will sing and praise your might.

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.
  5. Psalm 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-13 is numbered 21:2-14.
  6. Psalm 21:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

19 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

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,

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

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.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

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.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

20 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;

Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.

We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.

Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.

21 The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.

He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.

His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.

For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.

For the king trusteth in the Lord, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.

Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.

Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

10 Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.

11 For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.

12 Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.

13 Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.