Creation's witness and Torah's searching word

The sky speaks without a word

The heavens recount God's glory; the firmament tells the work of his hands. Day to day pours out speech, night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, no language, where their voice is not heard; their line goes out through all the earth.

In them God has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his chamber and like a champion glad to run the course. From one end of the heavens it goes, and nothing is hidden from its heat. Creation here is a witness, not a mechanism to be mastered as science, and not a rival to the Torah that follows.

Torah that searches, then a mouth asked to be acceptable

The poem turns from sky to word: the LORD's Torah is perfect, restoring the soul; testimony makes wise the simple; precepts rejoice the heart; commandment enlightens the eyes; fear is clean; judgments are true and righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. By them the servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Then the searchlight comes home. Who can discern errors? Cleanse me from hidden faults. Keep the servant also from proud sins; let them not rule. Then he will be blameless and innocent of great transgression. The last petition is that words of the mouth and meditation of the heart be acceptable. Self-examination does not replace accountability to that public word.