Does the New Testament quote Psalm 19?
Yes. In Romans 10:18 Paul quotes verse 4, about the voice of the heavens going out through all the earth, to show that God's message has reached all peoples.
Psalms · psalm 19 of 150
Psalm 19: Summary, Key Verses and Study Questions
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What happens in Psalm 19?
Psalm 19 is a hymn of David in three movements. The heavens declare God's glory day after day and their message reaches all the earth, the law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul, and the psalmist ends praying that God keep him from hidden faults and presumption and that his words be acceptable to the Lord, his rock and redeemer.
The title directs it to the choirmaster and attributes it to David. It is one of the most admired poems in the Bible: it joins two ways in which God makes himself known, creation and the Word, and brings them into a personal prayer. C. S. Lewis called it the greatest poem in the Psalter, and its beauty has inspired readers for centuries.
Psalm 19 summary
The psalm begins with the heavens: the heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech or words, and their voice is not heard, yet their line goes out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world. In them God has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy; nothing is hidden from its heat.
Then the poem changes scale: the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules are true and righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. By them the servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.
Finally the psalmist examines himself: who can discern his own errors? He asks to be declared innocent from hidden faults and that God keep him from presumptuous sins so that they do not rule over him. He concludes with a prayer: let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Chapter outline
- vv. 1-6: Creation declares God's glory; the tent of the sun.
- vv. 7-11: The law of the Lord: six descriptions and its worth, more than gold and sweeter than honey.
- vv. 12-14: A prayer for forgiveness, protection from presumption and words pleasing to the Lord.
Key verses in Psalm 19
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Creation is not silent: it speaks of its Creator to all peoples.
Psalm 19:7
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul, and his testimony is sure, making wise the simple. Here the law is not a weight but a gift that renews life.
Psalm 19:10
The words of the Lord are more desirable than much fine gold and sweeter than honey. Whoever tastes them discovers that they nourish more than wealth.
Psalm 19:14
The psalmist asks that his words and meditation be acceptable in the Lord's sight, his rock and redeemer. It is a simple prayer that many use before speaking or teaching.
Main themes
- God's revelation in creation
- The perfection of the Lord's law
- The worth of the Word
- Hidden faults and presumption
- Words and meditation pleasing to God
People and places
- David
- The Lord
- The sun
- The heavens
Psalm 19 study questions and answers
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
1. What do the heavens declare?
Answer: The glory of God; the sky proclaims his handiwork. — Psalm 19:1
2. What is the sun compared to when it rises?
Answer: A bridegroom leaving his chamber and a strong man running his course. — Psalm 19:5
3. What does the law of the Lord, which is perfect, do?
Answer: It revives the soul. — Psalm 19:7
4. What does the commandment of the Lord, which is pure, do?
Answer: It enlightens the eyes. — Psalm 19:8
5. What is the worth of the Lord's words compared to?
Answer: Fine gold, and their sweetness to honey. — Psalm 19:10
6. What does the psalmist call the Lord at the end?
Answer: His rock and his redeemer. — Psalm 19:14
Application for today
Psalm 19 invites us to look at the sky and open the Bible. Both speak of God: creation shows his greatness, and Scripture reveals his character and his will. On a clear night or at sunrise, believers can stop to give thanks; but to know God personally they need his Word.
The closing prayer is a good model for Bible study. Before opening the Bible or speaking to others, the psalmist asks for cleansing from hidden faults and presumption and that his words please the Lord. In the group you can close the study with that same prayer, remembering that the God who made the heavens is our redeemer.
Psalm 19 ends with a prayer that joins the inner life, our words and redemption. Psalm 20 moves from meditation to a public scene: the people pray for their king before he goes out to battle.
Frequently asked questions about Psalm 19
What does the psalm teach about general and special revelation?
The first part speaks of what God shows to everyone through creation, and the second of what he reveals to Israel in his law. Together they show that creation points to God, but the Word makes him known with clarity.
What are hidden faults and presumptuous sins?
Hidden faults are errors a person does not perceive, and presumptuous sins are deliberate ones. The psalmist asks God to cleanse him from the first and keep him from the second.