Psalms 19 · Verse 7

Psalms 19:7

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

Psalms 19:7, King James Version

Psalms 19:7 in other translations

BSB	The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
WEB	The LORD’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. The LORD’s covenant is sure, making wise the simple.
ASV	The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple.
YLT	The law of Jehovah is perfect, refreshing the soul, The testimonies of Jehovah are stedfast, Making wise the simple,
DARBY	The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple;
BBE	The law of the Lord is good, giving new life to the soul: the witness of the Lord is certain, giving wisdom to the foolish.
Webster	The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

What does Psalms 19:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 19:7-9

7-9. The law is described by six names, epithets, and effects. It is a rule, God's testimony for the truth, His special and general prescription of duty, fear (as its cause) and judicial decision. It is distinct and certain, reliable, right, pure, holy, and true. Hence it revives those depressed by doubts, makes wise the unskilled (2Ti 3:15), rejoices the lover of truth, strengthens the desponding (Psa 13:4; 34:6), provides permanent principles of conduct, and by God's grace brings a rich reward.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 7 The law of the Lord - And here are two books of Divine Revelation: 1. The visible Heavens, and the works of creation in general. 2. The Bible, or Divinely inspired writings contained in the Old and New Testaments. These may all be called the Law of the Lord; תורה torah, from ירה yarah, to instruct, direct, put straight, guide. It is God's system of instruction, by which men are taught the knowledge of God and themselves, directed how to walk so as to please God, redeemed from crooked paths, and guided in the way everlasting. Some think that תורה torah means the preceptive part of Revelation. Some of the primitive fathers have mentioned three Laws given by God to man: 1. The law of nature, which teaches the knowledge of God, as to his eternal power and Deity, by the visible creation. 2. The law given to Moses and the prophets, which teaches more perfectly the knowledge of God, his nature, his will and our duty. 3. The law of grace given by Christ Jesus, which shows the doctrine of the atonement, of purification, and of the resurrection of the body. The first is written in hieroglyphics in the heavens and the earth. The second was written on tables of stone, and in many rites and ceremonies. The third is to be written on the heart by the power of the Holy Ghost. Is perfect - תמימה temimah, it is perfection, it is perfect in itself as a law, and requires perfection in the hearts and lives of men. This is Its character. Converting the soul - Turning it back to God. Restoring it to right reason, or to a sound mind; teaching it its own interest in reference to both worlds. This is Its use. The testimony of the Lord - עדות eduth, from עד ad, beyond, forward. The various types and appointments of the law, which refer to something beyond themselves, and point forward to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Some understand, the doctrinal parts of the law. Is sure - נאמנה neemanah, are faithful; they point out the things beyond them fairly, truly, and fully, and make no vain or false report. They all bear testimony to the great atonement. This is Their character. Making wise the simple - The simple is he who has but one end in view: who is concerned about his soul, and earnestly inquires, "What shall I do to be saved?" These testimonies point to the atonement, and thus the simple-hearted is made wise unto salvation. This is Their use.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 19:7-10

The Holy Scripture is of much greater benefit to us than day or night, than the air we breathe, or the light of the sun. To recover man out of his fallen state, there is need of the word of God. The word translated "law," may be rendered doctrine, and be understood as meaning all that teaches us true religion. The whole is perfect; its tendency is to convert or turn the soul from sin and the world, to God and holiness. It shows our sinfulness and misery in departing from God, and the necessity of our return to him. This testimony is sure, to be fully depended on: the ignorant and unlearned believing what God saith, become wise unto salvation. It is a sure direction in the way of duty. It is a sure fountain of living comforts, and a sure foundation of lasting hopes. The statues of the Lord are right, just as they should be; and, because they are right, they rejoice the heart. The commandments of the Lord are pure, holy, just, and good. By them we discover our need of a Saviour; and then learn how to adorn his gospel. They are the means which the Holy Spirit uses in enlightening the eyes; they bring us to a sight and sense of our sin and misery, and direct us in the way of duty. The fear of the Lord, that is, true religion and godliness, is clean, it will cleanse our way; and it endureth for ever. The ceremonial law is long since done away, but the law concerning the fear of God is ever the same. The judgments of the Lord, his precepts, are true; they are righteous, and they are so altogether; there is no unrighteousness in any of them. Gold is only for the body, and the concerns of time; but grace is for the soul, and the concerns of eternity. The word of God, received by faith, is more precious than gold; it is sweet to the soul, sweeter than honey. The pleasure of sense soon surfeit, yet never satisfy; but those of religion are substantial and satisfying; there is no danger of excess.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 19:7 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

תּ֘וֹרַ֤תto.Rat[the] instruction ofH8451

יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahwehH3068

תְּ֭מִימָהTe.mi.mah[is] perfectH8549

מְשִׁ֣יבַתme.Shi.vatrestoringH7725

נָ֑פֶשׁNa.fesh<of> lifeH5315

עֵד֥וּת'e.Dut[the] testimony ofH5715

יְהוָ֥הYah.wehYahwehH3068

נֶ֝אֱמָנָ֗הne.'e.ma.Nah[is] reliableH539

מַחְכִּ֥ימַתmach.Ki.matmaking wiseH2449

פֶּֽתִי\׃Pe.ti<of> a simple personH6612

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 19:7

Psalms 119:130
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Psalms 111:7
The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Proverbs 1:4
To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
Psalms 23:3
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
2 Timothy 3:15-17
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Psalms 119:105
נ NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Psalms 93:5
Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.
Psalms 119:127-128
Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
James 1:21-25
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

law. or, doctrine.
78:1-7; 119:72,96-100,105,127,128; 147:19,20; De 6:6-9; 17:18-20
Jos 1:8; Job 23:12; Ro 3:2; 15:4
perfect.
18:30; 111:7; De 32:4; Ro 12:2; Jas 1:17
converting. or, restoring.
23:3; 119:9; Jas 1:21-25
testimony.
93:5; 119:14,24,111,152; Isa 8:16,20; Joh 3:32,33; 5:39; Ac 10:43
2Ti 1:8; 1Jo 5:9-12; Re 19:10
sure.
111:7; 2Sa 23:5; 2Ti 2:19; Heb 6:18,19
making.
119:130; Pr 1:4,22,23; Col 3:16; 2Ti 3:15-17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Psalms 19:6
His 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.
Psalms 19:7
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
Psalms 19:8
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Read all of Psalms 19

Psalms 19:7 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	La ley de Jehová es perfecta, que vuelve el alma: el testimonio de Jehová, fiel, que hace sabio al pequeño.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Sa sortie est d’un bout des cieux, et son tour jusqu’à l’autre bout; et rien n’est caché à sa chaleur.
German Elberfelder 1871	Das Gesetz Jehovas ist vollkommen, erquickend die Seele; das Zeugnis Jehovas ist zuverlässig, macht weise den Einfältigen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Impleat Dominus omnes petitiones tuas; nunc cognovi quoniam salvum fecit Dominus christum suum. Exaudiet illum de cælo sancto suo, in potentatibus salus dexteræ ejus.