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Psalm 96[a]

God of the Universe

I

Sing to the Lord a new song;(A)
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
    among all peoples, his marvelous deeds.(B)

II

[b]For great is the Lord and highly to be praised,
    to be feared above all gods.(C)
For the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.(D)
Splendor and power go before him;
    power and grandeur are in his holy place.

III

Give to the Lord, you families of nations,
    give to the Lord glory and might;
    give to the Lord the glory due his name!(E)
Bring gifts and enter his courts;
    bow down to the Lord, splendid in holiness.
Tremble before him, all the earth;
10     (F)declare among the nations: The Lord is king.
The world will surely stand fast, never to be shaken.
    He rules the peoples with fairness.

IV

11 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
    let the sea and what fills it resound;(G)
12     let the plains be joyful and all that is in them.
Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice
13     before the Lord who comes,
    who comes to govern the earth,(H)
To govern the world with justice
    and the peoples with faithfulness.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 96 A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33.
  2. 96:4 For references to other gods, see comments on Ps 58 and 82.

A Call to Worship the Lord the Righteous Judge.

96 (A)Sing to the Lord a (B)new song;
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
(C)Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Tell of (D)His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
For (E)great is the Lord, and (F)greatly to be praised;
He is to be (G)feared (H)above all gods.
For (I)all the gods of the peoples are [a]idols,
But (J)the Lord made the heavens.
(K)Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

[b]Ascribe to the Lord, you (L)families of the peoples,
[c](M)Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
[d]Ascribe to the Lord the (N)glory of His name;
Bring an [e](O)offering and come into His courtyards.
(P)Worship the Lord in [f]holy attire;
(Q)Tremble before Him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “(R)The Lord reigns;
Indeed, the (S)world is firmly established, it will not be moved;
He will (T)judge the peoples fairly.”

11 May the (U)heavens be joyful, and may the (V)earth rejoice;
May (W)the sea [g]roar, and [h]all it contains;
12 May the (X)field be jubilant, and all that is in it.
Then all the (Y)trees of the forest will sing for joy
13 Before the Lord, (Z)for He is coming,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
(AA)He will judge the world in righteousness,
And the peoples in His faithfulness.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 96:5 Or non-existent things
  2. Psalm 96:7 Lit Give
  3. Psalm 96:7 Lit Give
  4. Psalm 96:8 Lit Give
  5. Psalm 96:8 Or meal offering
  6. Psalm 96:9 Or the splendor of holiness
  7. Psalm 96:11 Or thunder
  8. Psalm 96:11 Lit its fullness

Worship in the Splendor of Holiness

96 (A)Oh sing to the Lord (B)a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
    (C)tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!
For (D)great is the Lord, and (E)greatly to be praised;
    he is to be feared above (F)all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but the Lord (G)made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
    (H)strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, O (I)families of the peoples,
    (J)ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
Ascribe to the Lord (K)the glory due his name;
    bring (L)an offering, and (M)come into his courts!
Worship the Lord in (N)the splendor of holiness;[a]
    (O)tremble before him, all the earth!

10 Say among the nations, (P)“The Lord reigns!
    Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
    he will (Q)judge the peoples with equity.”

11 Let (R)the heavens be glad, and let (S)the earth rejoice;
    let (T)the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12     let (U)the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all (V)the trees of the forest sing for joy
13     before the Lord, for he comes,
    for he comes (W)to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 96:9 Or in holy attire

Psalm 96

Praise to God Who Comes in Judgment

O sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
    tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
    he is to be revered above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before him;
    strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in holy splendor;
    tremble before him, all the earth.

10 Say among the nations, “The Lord is king!
    The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
    He will judge the peoples with equity.”
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
    let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12     let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13     before the Lord; for he is coming,
    for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
    and the peoples with his truth.

Psalm 96(A)

Sing to the Lord(B) a new song;(C)
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;(D)
    proclaim his salvation(E) day after day.
Declare his glory(F) among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds(G) among all peoples.

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(H)
    he is to be feared(I) above all gods.(J)
For all the gods of the nations are idols,(K)
    but the Lord made the heavens.(L)
Splendor and majesty(M) are before him;
    strength and glory(N) are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord,(O) all you families of nations,(P)
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering(Q) and come into his courts.(R)
Worship the Lord(S) in the splendor of his[a] holiness;(T)
    tremble(U) before him, all the earth.(V)
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.(W)
    The world is firmly established,(X) it cannot be moved;(Y)
    he will judge(Z) the peoples with equity.(AA)

11 Let the heavens rejoice,(AB) let the earth be glad;(AC)
    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
    let all the trees of the forest(AD) sing for joy.(AE)
13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
    he comes to judge(AF) the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness(AG)
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.(AH)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 96:9 Or Lord with the splendor of