Psalm 67
New Catholic Bible
Psalm 67[a]
Prayer That All May Worship God
1 For the director.[b] With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.
2 O God, be gracious to us and bless us
and let your face shine upon us.[c] Selah
3 [d]Then your ways will be known on earth
and your salvation among all nations.
4 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
5 Let the nations rejoice and exult,
for you judge the peoples fairly
and guide the nations upon the earth.[e] Selah
6 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
7 The earth has yielded its harvest;
God, our God, has blessed us.
8 May God continue to bless us
and be revered to the ends of the earth.
Footnotes
- Psalm 67:1 This psalm recounts the assembly of the people for the Feast of the Harvest (see Ex 23:16; Lev 26:4) and their prayers of praise to God. They recall first all that he has done in Israel; the abundance of the fruits of the earth is like a new sign of his power and goodness. And more and more, they want the whole world to take part in this thanksgiving to God. The Lord is no longer merely the God of Israel; he is the Master and Judge of the whole world and all its peoples.
This psalm enables us to thank God for his material blessings on us. However, it also reminds us to ask God to continue to shower upon us his spiritual blessings so as to elicit admiration, envy, and divine praises even from nonbelievers. - Psalm 67:1 For the director: these words are thought to be a musical or liturgical notation.
- Psalm 67:2 This verse was inspired by the priestly blessing (see Ps 31:17; Num 6:24-26). Face shine upon us: a radiant face is the sign of a joyous and benevolent heart (see Pss 4:7; 31:17; 44:4; 80:4; 119:135; see also note on Ps 13:2).
- Psalm 67:3 The history of the chosen people is a lesson that God gives to the pagan nations, enabling them to discover his power and goodness. They too are called to serve the one God and must join their praises to those of God’s people. The refrain of the psalm (vv. 4, 6) insists on the universalism that the Prophets (see Jer 33:9), especially Second Isaiah, have impressed on the religious conscience of Israel. Many psalms bear witness to this spirit.
- Psalm 67:5 The psalmist prays that the nations may see the goodness of God’s rule and respond with joy and praise (see Pss 98:4-6; 100:1).
Psalm 67
King James Version
67 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Psalm 67
American Standard Version
The nations exhorted to praise God.
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm, a Song.
67 God be merciful unto us, and bless us,
And cause his face to shine [a]upon us; Selah
2 That thy way may be known upon earth,
Thy salvation among all nations.
3 Let the peoples [b]praise thee, O God;
Let all the peoples praise thee.
4 Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy;
For thou wilt judge the peoples with equity,
And [c]govern the nations upon earth. Selah
5 Let the peoples praise thee, O God;
Let all the peoples praise thee.
6 The earth hath yielded its increase:
God, even our own God, will bless us.
7 God will bless us;
And all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Footnotes
- Psalm 67:1 Hebrew with us.
- Psalm 67:3 Or, give thanks unto
- Psalm 67:4 Hebrew lead.
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