Psalm 19:7

Psalm 19:7

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

a. ASV: The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple.

b. YLT: The law of Jehovah is perfect, refreshing the soul, The testimonies of Jehovah are stedfast, Making wise the simple,

c. Amplified Bible Classic: The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the [whole] person; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

d. Septuagint [Psalm 19:7 in our Bible is Psalm 18:8 in the Septuagint]: The law of the Lord is perfect, converting souls: the testimony of the Lord is faithful, instructing babes.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings [Psalm 19:7 in our Bible is Psalm 19:8 in the Jewish Bible]: The Torah of HASHEM is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of HASHEM is trustworthy, making the simple ones wise; 

1. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul…”

a. [The] law [Strong: 8451 tôwrâh, to-raw'; or תֹּרָה tôrâh; from H3384; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch:—law.]

b. [of the] LORD [Strong: 3068 Yᵉhôvâh, yeh-ho-vaw'; from H1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God:—Jehovah, the Lord.]

c. [is] perfect [Strong: 8549 tâmîym, taw-meem'; from H8552; entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth:—without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright(-ly), whole.]

d. converting [Strong: 7725 shûwb, shoob; a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again:—((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) × again, (cause to) answer ( again), × in any case (wise), × at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, × certainly, come again (back), × consider, continually, convert, deliver (again), deny, draw back, fetch home again, × fro, get (oneself) (back) again, × give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, × needs, be past, × pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, × surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.]

e. [the] soul [Strong: 5315 nephesh, neh'-fesh; from H5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):—any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, × dead(-ly), desire, × (dis-) contented, × fish, ghost, greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, × jeopardy of) life (×in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, slay, soul, tablet, they, thing, (× she) will, ×would have it.] [Gesenius: to return, turn back…of spiritual relations (fig)… to turn back (to God), repent, to restore, refresh, repair (fig), to be returned, be restored, be brought back, brought back.]

1). Because the law of the LORD is supernatural, if we respond in obedience to it, it has the spiritual and physiological ability to affect the life of man on all levels, spirit, soul, and body.

a). Psalm 1:1-3  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

b). 1 Timothy 4:15, 16 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

4:15 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

c). James 1:21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 

2). Conversely, if we neglect the law of God we will be setting ourselves up for destruction.

a). Isaiah 5:24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

b). Isaiah 30:9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

30:11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

2. “…the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”

a. [the] testimony [Strong: 5715 ʻêdûwth, ay-dooth'; feminine of H5707; testimony:—testimony, witness.] [Gesenius: testimony; revelation, hence a revealed psalm; the authors of the psalms considered them as revealed [D.C. i.e., revelations from God as of course all Scripture is; some of the Psalms are quoted with the words “the Holy Ghost saith”, Hebrew 3:7].

b. [of the] LORD [Strong: 3068 Yᵉhôvâh, yeh-ho-vaw'; from H1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God:—Jehovah, the Lord.]

c. [is] sure [Strong: 539 ʼâman, aw-man'; a primitive root; (Isaiah 30:21; interchangeable with H541, to go to the right hand) properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain;:—hence, assurance, believe, bring up, establish, fail, be faithful (of long continuance, stedfast, sure, surely, trusty, verified), nurse, (-ing father), (put), trust, turn to the right.]

d. [making] wise [Strong: 2449 châkam, khaw-kam'; a primitive root, to be wise (in mind, word or act):—×exceeding, teach wisdom, be (make self, shew self) wise, deal (never so) wisely, make wiser.]

e. [the] simple [Strong: 6612 pᵉthîy, peth-ee'; or פֶּתִי pethîy; or פְּתָאִי pᵉthâʼîy; from H6601; silly (i.e. seducible):—foolish, simple(-icity, one).]

1). The entire word of God is His testimony, including the New Testament and the record God gave concerning Christ Jesus.

a). 1 Corinthians 2:1, 2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

b). 1 John 5:10-12 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.