Mazmur 19:10-13

19:10 They are of greater value ¹  than gold,

than even a great amount of pure gold;

they bring greater delight ²  than honey,

than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.

19:11 Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there; ³ 

those who obey them receive a rich reward. ⁴ 

19:12 Who can know all his errors? ⁵ 

Please do not punish me for sins I am unaware of. ⁶ 

19:13 Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant ⁷  sins;

do not allow such sins to control me. ⁸ 

Then I will be blameless,

and innocent of blatant ⁹  rebellion.

[19:10]  ¹ tn Heb “more desirable.”

[19:10]  ² tn Heb “are sweeter.” God’s law is “sweet’ in the sense that, when obeyed, it brings a great reward (see v. 11b).

[19:11]  ³ tn Heb “moreover your servant is warned by them.”

[19:11]  ⁴ tn Heb “in the keeping of them [there is] a great reward.”

[19:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “Errors who can discern?” This rhetorical question makes the point that perfect moral discernment is impossible to achieve. Consequently it is inevitable that even those with good intentions will sin on occasion.

[19:12]  ⁶ tn Heb “declare me innocent from hidden [things],” i.e., sins. In this context (see the preceding line) “hidden” sins are not sins committed in secret, but sins which are not recognized as such by the psalmist.

[19:13]  ⁷ tn Or “presumptuous.”

[19:13]  ⁸ tn Heb “let them not rule over me.”

[19:13]  ⁹ tn Heb “great.”