Psalms 19:7–10
YHWH's instruction revives, gladdens the heart, and is sweeter than honey
Study it word by word7The instruction of YHWH is blameless, bringing back the soul; the testimony of YHWH is faithful, making wise the naive.
8The precepts of YHWH are upright, making glad the heart; the commandment of YHWH is clean, giving light to the eyes.
9The fear of YHWH is pure, enduring forever; the rules of YHWH are truth; they are righteous altogether.
10More desirable than gold, and than much fine gold; and sweeter than honey and than the drippings of the honeycomb.
In its context
5and it is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; it rejoices like a mighty man to run the path.
6From the end of the heavens is its going out, and its circuit to their ends; and nothing is hidden from its heat.
…
11Also your servant is warned by them; in keeping them there is great reward.
12Errors —who can discern them? Hold me innocent of hidden ones.
Its words in the original
- תּוֹרַתtorat· instruction, law
"Torah": instruction, teaching that gives direction; hence "law". Later it is the name of the five books of Moses. This translation uses "instruction", and "law" when the body of laws is meant.
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- תְּמִימָהtemima· blameless
Complete, whole, without defect. Said of a person, blameless: of one piece, without falseness. It does not mean that he has never sinned.
- מְשִׁיבַתmeshivat· return, turn back
Turn back, return. Also turn away; in the causative form, bring back, give back, answer. Figuratively, turn back to God (change course). Often adverbial: "again".
- נָפֶשׁnafesh· soul, living being, life
A breathing being, a living being. It is translated "living being" (people and animals), "life" (when living or dying is at stake), "person" (in counts and laws), "soul" (the person at the innermost: desires, joy, anguish) or "myself". In the Old Testament it names the whole living being, not only a part of it.
- עֵדוּתedut· testimony
Testimony: the tablets of the covenant, which bear witness to what God commanded; "the ark of the testimony" holds them.
- נֶאֱמָנָהneemana· believe, be firm
Be firm, trustworthy; in another form, "believe": lean on someone and trust what he says. It is also said of one who brings up a child. "Amen" comes from this root.
- מַחְכִּימַתmachkimat· be wise
Be wise, act wisely; in Exodus 1:10, act shrewdly.
- פֶּתִיpeti· simple, naive
Simple, naive: a person without experience, easily persuaded, who still has to learn.
- פִּקּוּדֵיpikude· precepts
Precepts: what God has charged people to keep. It is used only in the plural and almost only in the Psalms.
- יְשָׁרִיםyesharim· upright, right
Upright: what is right and just; straight.
- מְשַׂמְּחֵיmesamche· rejoice
Rejoice, be glad; make glad.
- לֵבlev· heart
Heart. In Hebrew it is not only the place of feelings: it is the center of the person, where one thinks, decides and wills; also the middle of something.
- מִצְוַתmitsvat· commandment
Commandment: an order given by one in authority; above all, those of God.
- בָּרָהbara· pure, clean
Clean, pure; also clear, bright.
- מְאִירַתmeirat· give light, shine
Give light, shine; light up.
- עֵינָיִםenayim· eye
Eye. "In someone's eyes" means "in his opinion"; "find favor in the eyes of" is to please him. Also a spring of water.
- יִרְאַתyirat· fear
Fear. "The fear of God" is deep reverence that leads one to obey him and avoid evil.
- טְהוֹרָהtehora· clean, pure
Pure, clean. In the laws, fit for worship or for eating; it does not refer to hygiene.
- עוֹמֶדֶתomedet· stand
Stand; stay, remain, endure. "Stand before" someone is to serve him or be in his presence. In another form of the verb, set up, place, appoint.
- עַדad· forever
Forever, without end.
- מִשְׁפְּטֵיmishpte· justice, judgment
What is right and the decision that establishes it: the judgment of a judge, someone's right, a rule or ordinance, a custom. "Do righteousness and justice" is to treat each one as is due.
- אֱמֶתemet· faithfulness, truth
Truth, firmness. Said of a person or of God, faithfulness: he can be trusted because he keeps his word. It often goes with "loyal love".
- צָדְקוּtsadku· be righteous, justify
Be in the right, be righteous; in another form, declare righteous, justify.
- יַחְדָּוyachdav· together
Together, at the same time.
- נֶּחֱמָדִיםnechemadim· desire
Desire, find something attractive; "desirable", pleasant to look at. The same verb is "covet" in the commandments.
- זָּהָבzahav· gold
Gold.
- פַּזpaz· pure gold
Refined gold, pure gold.
- רָבrav· many, great
Many, much, abundant, great; also "elder" or "chief".
- מְתוּקִיםmetukim· sweet
Sweet; what is sweet.
- דְּבַשׁdevash· honey
Honey; also sweet fruit syrup.
- נֹפֶתnofet· dripping honey
Honey that drips, the purest, as it comes from the comb.
- צוּפִיםtsufim· honeycomb
Honeycomb: the wax cells from which honey drips.