# Psalms 19.9

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-06-01 | updated: 2026-06-01 -->

**Book:** [Psalms](/codex/psalms/) · NASB95

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 7. The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple. 8. The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes.
>
> **9. The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever: The ordinances of Jehovah are true, and righteous altogether.**
>
> 10. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb. 11. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: In keeping them there is great reward. (Psalms 19:7-11, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 7. Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple. 8. Yahweh’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. Yahweh’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.
>
> **9. The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever. Yahweh’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.**
>
> 10. More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb. 11. Moreover by them is your servant warned. In keeping them there is great reward. (Psalms 19:7-11, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 7. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. <sup>law: or, doctrine</sup> <sup>converting: or, restoring</sup> 8. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
>
> **9. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. <sup>true: Heb. truth</sup>**
>
> 10. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. <sup>the honeycomb: Heb. the dropping of honeycombs</sup> 11. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. (Psalms 19:7-11, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 7. The law of Jehovah [is] perfect, refreshing the soul, The testimonies of Jehovah [are] stedfast, Making wise the simple, 8. The precepts of Jehovah [are] upright, Rejoicing the heart, The command of Jehovah [is] pure, enlightening the eyes,
>
> **9. The fear of Jehovah [is] clean, standing to the age, The judgments of Jehovah [are] true, They have been righteous, together.**
>
> 10. They are more desirable than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; and sweeter than honey, Even liquid honey of the comb. 11. Also, Thy servant is warned by them, 'In keeping them [is] a great reward.' (Psalms 19:7-11, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** _TBD_
- **Audience:** _TBD_
- **Location:** _TBD_
- **Time period:** _TBD_

## Theological reading

_Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._

## Key words

_Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap._

- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Moral Anti-Realism Defeater](/codex/moral-anti-realism-defeater/), via [Psalms 19.7-9](/codex/psalms-19-7-9/)

**Concepts:**

- [General Revelation](/codex/romans-1-19-20/), via [Psalms 19.7-14](/codex/psalms-19-7-14/)

**Lexicon:**

- [H4941 - mishpat](/codex/h4941-mishpat/)
- [H6664 - tzedeq](/codex/h6664-tzedeq/)

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_Scripture quotations taken from the **New American Standard Bible®** (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by **The Lockman Foundation**. Used by permission. All rights reserved. [www.lockman.org](https://www.lockman.org)_

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.