Psalms

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

1The sky tells how great God is. The wide heavens show what his hands have made.

2Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

2Each day passes the message to the next day. Each night passes on what it knows.

3There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

3There is no language and no speech where their voice is not heard.

4Their 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,

4Their message goes out over the whole earth. Their words reach the far ends of the world. In the sky God has set up a tent for the sun.

NoteThe KJV says "their line is gone out." A "line" was a measuring cord, and here it means the reach of their message across the earth. "Tabernacle" means a tent.

5Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

5The sun comes out like a bridegroom leaving his room. It is glad, like a strong runner starting his race.

6His 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.

6It rises at one end of the sky and travels all the way to the other end. Nothing is hidden from its heat.

7The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

7The law of the LORD is perfect. It brings a person back to life. What the LORD says can be trusted. It makes wise those who know little.

8The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

8The rules of the LORD are right, and they make the heart glad. The commands of the LORD are clear, and they give light to the eyes.

9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

9The fear of the LORD is clean, and it lasts forever. The decisions of the LORD are true, and every one of them is fair.

Note"The fear of the LORD" does not mean being scared. It means deep respect and awe toward God.

10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

10They are worth wanting more than gold, even more than a pile of the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey straight from the comb.

11Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

11They warn me, your servant. And keeping them brings a great reward.

12Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

12Who can see all his own mistakes? Make me clean from the faults I cannot see.

13Keep 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.

13Hold me back, your servant, from sins I would choose on purpose. Do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless, and clear of great wrong.

Note"Presumptuous sins" are wrongs a person chooses to do on purpose, knowing they are wrong. They are set against the "secret faults" of verse 12, which a person does not even notice.

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

14May the words I say and the thoughts I think please you, LORD. You are my rock and the one who sets me free.