Psalm 19

W. W. J. VanOene, 1972; revised

1. The spacious heavens laud
   The glory of our God
   With full majestic praise.
   The soaring firmament
   Unmeasured in extent
   His handiwork displays.
   Day pours forth speech to day,
   Night will to night convey
   The knowledge of creation.
   There is no speech nor word,
   Their voices are not heard;
   Yet they reach every nation.
   
2. In this wide firmament
   God gave the sun a tent
   From which to start its run.
   Just as a joyful groom
   Emerges from his room,
   So comes the radiant sun.
   And as a man of force
   Rejoicing runs his course,
   So from the end of heaven
   The sun its path completes,
   And from its burning heat
   Can nothing remain hidden.
   
3. The law of God is whole
   And it revives the soul
   By bidding it to rise.
   His testimony sure
   Forever shall endure:
   It makes the simple wise.
   The precepts of the LORD,
   Which are His perfect Word,
   With joy our hearts do brighten;
   While His commandments sure,
   Which are both true and pure,
   The eyes of man enlighten.
   
4. The fear of God is clean;
   A fountain most serene
   It will forever be.
   His ordinances, too,
   Are righteous and are true,
   For everyone to see,
   To be desired far more
   Than gold, much fine gold, or
   What can be bought for money.
   They are far sweeter than
   Whatever sweetness man
   Receives from combs with honey.
   
5. More over, they forewarn
   Thy servant that he scorn
   All evil ways, O LORD.
   He who with faith in Thee
   Keeps them obediently
   Will reap a great reward.
   But, LORD, who is the man
   Who with precision can
   Discern his every error?
   To Thee I humbly pray,
   Forgive and clear away
   My hidden faults forever.
   
6. Keep Thou me all my days,
   O LORD, from evil ways;
   Wilt Thou their sway prevent.
   Then blameless I shall be,
   From great transgressions free,
   Before Thee innocent.
   That every word I say
   And all my heart’s thoughts may
   Be proof of pure demeanor -
   All this Thy servant prays
   Of Thee who scanst his ways,
   My Rock and my Redeemer.