Psalm 19

words: Gary Hicks, copyright 2010, Gary L. Hicks
tune: RESTORATION, from Walker's Southern Harmony, 1835
(Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy)


Oh, what beauty in the heavens

Lord, I marvel at their song

For they sing of Your creation

Speak Your greatness clear and strong

You have made the sun above us

So to bless the earth with light

Rising strong to warm the nations

Setting strong to give us night

But Your word is even stronger

Than the radiance of the sun

As You speak and as we listen

Deep inside Your kingdom comes

How Your word makes wise the simple

More to be desired than gold

How Your message brings rejoicing

To the worn and weary soul

Keep my mind from vain presumption

Keep my heart from boastful sin

Train me in the way of Jesus

Teach me to be pure within

Let my words meet Your approval

Let my actions win Your praise

Live in me, O Holy Spirit

Guard my heart and guide my ways

Psalm 19 (King James Version)

 ¹The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

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

 ³There is no speech nor language, 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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 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.

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

BEHOLD THE MORNING SUN (Psalm 19)

(Isaac Watts, 1719)

Behold, the morning sun
Begins his glorious way;
His beams through all the nations run,
And life and light convey.

But where the Gospel comes
It spreads diviner light;
It calls dead sinners from their tombs,
And gives the blind their sight.

How perfect is Thy Word!
And all Thy judgments just!
For ever sure Thy promise, Lord,
And men securely trust.

My gracious God, how plain
Are Thy directions giv’n!
O may I never read in vain,
But find the path to Heav’n!

I hear Thy word with love,
And I would fain obey:
Send Thy good Spirit from above
To guide me, lest I stray.

O who can ever find
The errors of his ways?
Yet with a bold, presumptuous mind
I would not dare transgress.

Warn me of every sin,
Forgive my secret faults,
And cleanse this guilty soul of mine,
Whose crimes exceed my thoughts.

While with my heart and tongue
I spread Thy praise abroad,
Accept the worship and the song,
My Savior and my God.