Psalm 96-99

Good News Translation

⁴ The Lord is great and is to be highly praised;
    he is to be honored more than all the gods.
⁵ The gods of all other nations are only idols,
    but the Lord created the heavens.
⁶ Glory and majesty surround him;
    power and beauty fill his Temple.

^7 (B)Praise the Lord, all people on earth;
    praise his glory and might.
⁸ Praise the Lord's glorious name;
    bring an offering and come into his Temple.
⁹ Bow down before the Holy One when he appears;^[a]
    tremble before him, all the earth!

¹⁰ Say to all the nations, “The Lord is king!
    The earth is set firmly in place and cannot be moved;
    he will judge the peoples with justice.”
¹¹ Be glad, earth and sky!
    Roar, sea, and every creature in you;
¹²     be glad, fields, and everything in you!
The trees in the woods will shout for joy
¹³     when the Lord comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the peoples of the world
    with justice and fairness.

⁷ Everyone who worships idols is put to shame;
    all the gods bow down^[b] before the Lord.
⁸ The people of Zion are glad,
    and the cities of Judah rejoice
    because of your judgments, O Lord.
⁹ Lord Almighty, you are ruler of all the earth;
    you are much greater than all the gods.

¹⁰ The Lord loves those who hate evil;^[c]
    he protects the lives of his people;
    he rescues them from the power of the wicked.
¹¹ Light shines on the righteous,
    and gladness on the good.
¹² All you that are righteous be glad
    because of what the Lord has done!
Remember what the holy God has done,
    and give thanks to him.

⁴ Sing for joy to the Lord, all the earth;
    praise him with songs and shouts of joy!
⁵ Sing praises to the Lord!
    Play music on the harps!
⁶ Blow trumpets and horns,
    and shout for joy to the Lord, our king.

⁷ Roar, sea, and every creature in you;
    sing, earth, and all who live on you!
⁸ Clap your hands, you rivers;
    you hills, sing together with joy before the Lord,
⁹     because he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the peoples of the world
    with justice and fairness.

⁴ Mighty king,^[e] you love what is right;
    you have established justice in Israel;
    you have brought righteousness and fairness.
⁵ Praise the Lord our God;
    worship before his throne!
    Holy is he!

⁶ Moses and Aaron were his priests,
    and Samuel was one who prayed to him;
    they called to the Lord, and he answered them.
^7 (D)He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;
    they obeyed the laws and commands that he gave them.

⁸ O Lord, our God, you answered your people;
    you showed them that you are a God who forgives,
    even though you punished them for their sins.
⁹ Praise the Lord our God,
    and worship at his sacred hill!^[f]
The Lord our God is holy.