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The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
Psalms 19:7 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple.
  • KJV The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
  • NKJV The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
  • NASB ¶The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
  • NLT The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

God's law is perfect and revives the soul; his testimony is reliable and makes the simple wise. Scripture surpasses creation in revealing God savingly.

Overview

The psalm pivots from general revelation in nature to special revelation in God's Word, using his covenant name 'Yahweh.' The law (instruction) is 'perfect,' restoring life to the soul, and the testimony makes even the inexperienced wise. Where creation shows God's power, the Word makes him savingly known, a Word fully embodied in Christ (John 1:1).

Cross-references & the web

Theme

  • The Law"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul."

Cross-references · 40

  • Ps 119:130The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.
  • Ps 111:7The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are trustworthy.
  • Col 3:16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
  • Prov 1:4To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
  • Ps 23:3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.
  • 2 Tim 3:15–17From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
  • Ps 119:105Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
  • Deut 32:4He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.
  • 2 Tim 2:19Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
  • Ps 93:5Your testimonies are fully confirmed; holiness adorns Your house, O LORD, for all the days to come.
  • Ps 119:127–128Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold.
  • 2 Tim 1:8So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
  • Isa 8:20To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
  • Josh 1:8This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.
  • Jas 1:21–25Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.
  • Rom 15:4For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.
  • Jas 1:17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
  • Ps 119:111Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
  • Ps 119:72The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
  • Ps 18:30As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
  • Acts 10:43All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
  • Prov 1:22–23“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
  • Job 23:12I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.
  • Ps 119:24Your testimonies are indeed my delight; they are my counselors.
  • Rom 12:2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
  • 1 Jn 5:9–12Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son.
  • Deut 6:6–9These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts.
  • Ps 119:14I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.
  • Ps 119:96–100I have seen a limit to all perfection, but Your commandment is without limit.
  • Isa 8:16Bind up the testimony and seal the law among my disciples.
  • John 5:39You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me,
  • Ps 119:9How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.
  • Ps 119:152Long ago I learned from Your testimonies that You have established them forever.
  • 2 Sam 23:5Is not my house right with God? For He has established with me an everlasting covenant, ordered and secured in every part. Will He not bring about my full salvation and my every desire?
  • Rev 19:10So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
  • Deut 17:18–20When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.
  • Ps 78:1–7A Maskil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my instruction; listen to the words of my mouth.
  • John 3:32–33He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.
  • Ps 147:19–20He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel.
  • Heb 6:18–19Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 19:7YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PsalmsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.

How Psalms 19:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.