Psalm 19
The heavens declare the glory of God;the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day
they pour forth
speech;
night after
night they
display
knowledge.
There is no
speech or
language
where their
voice is not
heard.
Their voice
goes out into
all the earth,
their words to
the ends of the
world.
In the heavens
he has pitched a
tent for the
sun,
which is
like a
bridegroom
coming forth
from his
pavilion,
like a champion
rejoicing to run
his course.
It rises at
one end of the
heavens
and makes its
circuit to the
other;
nothing is
hidden from its
heat.
The law of
the LORD is
perfect,
reviving the
soul.
The statutes of
the LORD are
trustworthy,
making wise the
simple.
The precepts
of the LORD are
right,
giving joy to
the heart.
The commands of
the LORD are
radiant,
giving light to
the eyes.
The fear of
the LORD is
pure,
enduring
forever.
The ordinances
of the LORD are
sure
and altogether
righteous.
They are more
precious than
gold,
than much pure
gold;
they are sweeter
than honey,
than honey from
the comb.
By them is
your servant
warned;
in keeping them
there is great
reward.
Who can
discern his
errors?
Forgive my
hidden faults.
Keep your
servant also
from willful
sins;
may they not
rule over me.
Then will I be
blameless,
innocent of
great
transgression.
May the words
of my mouth and
the meditation
of my heart
be pleasing in
your sight,
O LORD, my Rock
and my Redeemer.
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.