Psalms 19:3

(a) The rendering of A.V. means that the message of the heavens reaches all nations of every language alike, and is intelligible to them. But the Heb. words rendered speechand languagewill not bear this explanation.

(b) The rendering

It is not a speech or words

Whose voice is unintelligible,

is that of most of the ancient versions (LXX, Aq., Symm., Theod., Vulg., Jer.). But it does not satisfy the parallelism, and it is unnatural to refer their voiceto -speech and words" rather than to -the heavens."

(c) It is best to render (cp. R.V.)

There is neither speech nor words,

Unheard is their voice.

Their message though real is inarticulate. Thus understood, the verse qualifies Psalms 19:2, and is in close connexion with Psalms 19:4. Theirs is a silent eloquence, yet it reaches from one end of the world to the other. Comp. Addison's paraphrase:

"What though in solemn silence all

Move round the dark terrestrial ball?

What though nor real voice nor sound

Amid their radiant orbs be found?

In reason's ear they all rejoice,

And utter forth a glorious voice,

For ever singing, as they shine,

-The hand that made us is divine"."