The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
I revel in the beauty of the stars,
they seem more numerous than the sands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
And if the rocks could cry out,
Your eminence they would acknowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them
They are bright, and light and astonishing,
as was so surely evidenced in Bethlehem.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
They speak of glory and holiness and beauty,
they speak of Your Son, the Word.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It leaves the starting block anew each day
it strides full out, ready to pass the baton
to the moon, our evening's light source.
It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
Seed and plant and beast doth savor
its radiance we take delight in
all its light touches, it transformeth.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
His word is true and light and life,
Showing us how to walk away from that which is sinful.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
But it is not the law that guides us
nor rules that lead our hearts
It is love for our Father,
that is what motivates our lives.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
That fear is awe and love amixed,
in our hearts its bound
with His statutes and commands
to always lead and guide us.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
They are life to us,
they are a light to walk by.
To follow that path that He set for us
when we were yet in our mother's womb.
By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
They are not to be feared or to be run from,
but something to walk toward.
But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
Lead me and guide me into the truth
that saves me from the enemy's assaults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
Help me to walk in Your will and in Your way
keep me on that narrow ridge.
Not for me to be backslidden
but to always be moving forward in forward progression.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
You alone are my life, my hope,
my treasure beyond compare.
My desire is to do more than just give you lip service
but to be a true Christ follower.
Scripture in italics from NIV