A Choral Reading of Psalm 19

A Reading based on Psalm 19

ONE: People of God, hear the words of the poet David from Psalm 19, augmented by contemporary metaphors.

TWO: The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of God’s hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.

THREE: God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Dr. Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.
Their words aren't heard, their voices aren't recorded, But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.

ONE: In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
    It is like a bridegroom coming out of the chamber,
    like a champion rejoicing to run the course.

THREE: It is like the ten-year-old winning the spelling bee,
Like a graduate, throwing her mortarboard in the air.

ONE & THREE: It rises at one end of the heavens
    and makes its circuit to the other;
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

ONE: The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.

TWO: The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.

ONE: The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.

TWO: The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.

ONE: The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.

TWO: The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

ONE:They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
    they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.

THREE (from The Message): God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds.
It’s better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.

ONE & TWO: By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.

ONE: But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults.

TWO: Keep your servant also from willful sins;
    may they not rule over me.

THREE (from The Message): Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.

ONE & TWO: Then I will be blameless,
    innocent of great transgression.

ONE, TWO & THREE: May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

TWO: The Word of the Lord. 

CONGREGATION: Thanks be to God.