Mazmur 19:13-14

19:13 Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant ¹  sins;

do not allow such sins to control me. ² 

Then I will be blameless,

and innocent of blatant ³  rebellion.

19:14 May my words and my thoughts

be acceptable in your sight, ⁴ 

O Lord, my sheltering rock ⁵  and my redeemer. ⁶ 

[19:13]  ¹ tn Or “presumptuous.”

[19:13]  ² tn Heb “let them not rule over me.”

[19:13]  ³ tn Heb “great.”

[19:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “may the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart be acceptable before you.” The prefixed verbal form at the beginning of the verse is understood as a jussive of prayer. Another option is to translate the form as an imperfect continuing the thought of v. 14b: “[Then] the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart will be acceptable before you.”

[19:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “my rocky cliff,” which is a metaphor for protection; thus the translation “sheltering rock.”

[19:14]  ⁶ tn Heb “and the one who redeems me.” The metaphor casts the Lord in the role of a leader who protects members of his extended family in times of need and crisis.