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Psalm 97
New Catholic Bible
Psalm 97
New Catholic Bible
Psalm 97[a]
Divine King and Universal Judge
1 The Lord is King;[b] let the earth exult;
let the distant isles rejoice.
2 [c]Clouds and darkness[d] surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire[e] precedes him,
consuming his enemies on every side.
4 His flashes of lightnwing illumine the world;
the earth sees this and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,[f]
and all the nations behold his glory.
7 All who worship images are put to shame,
those who boast of their worthless idols;
bow down before him, all you gods.[g]
8 Zion hears and rejoices,
and the cities[h] of Judah exult
because of your judgments, O Lord.
9 For you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
10 [i]Let those who love the Lord hate evil,
for he protects the souls of his faithful ones
and rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
11 [j]Light dawns for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name.
Footnotes
- Psalm 97:1 Here is another hymn to King Yahweh, the only Lord and Savior. His coming is described with the grandiose and traditional images of divine manifestations (see Ex 19:16-20). These produce terror among idolaters and joy in Israel. By the time this song was written, all fear of foreign deities had disappeared among the Israelites; the gods themselves, or at least their worshipers, are invited to come and prostrate themselves before the only God. The people’s faith in the only Lord is henceforth unshakable.
This majestic Lord is also the God who comes, the one who loves every righteous heart. Furthermore, this God of the universe who is praised is the very same God who is close to us along the paths of life.
The theme of the kingdom of God was dominant in the teaching of Jesus. According to John’s Gospel, Jesus was enthroned on the cross and in his Resurrection-Ascension. Hence, as Christians pray this psalm, we can rejoice in Christ’s rule.
According to the superscription in the Septuagint and Vulgate, this psalm was sung when David’s land was established, hence after the return from the Exile. - Psalm 97:1 The Lord is King: see note on Ps 93:1a-b. The distant isles: distant countries accessible only by sea (see 1 Ki 9:26-28; 10:22; Isa 60:9; Jon 1:3).
- Psalm 97:2 The psalmist portrays the Lord’s appearance by traditional signs of his manifestation at Sinai. These went on to become the signs used to describe the future day of the Lord, when he would come in glory to establish true justice on the earth (see notes on Pss 18:7; 18:8-16).
- Psalm 97:2 Clouds and darkness: these served to veil God’s ineffable glory from human eyes (see Ex 19:9; 1 Ki 8:12). Righteousness and justice: divine attributes personified (see Pss 61:8; 85:12; Prov 16:12; 25:5).
- Psalm 97:3 Fire: symbol of God’s wrath (see Pss 21:10; 50:3; 83:15; Deut 4:24; 1 Ki 19:12; Isa 10:17).
- Psalm 97:6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness: the heavens show forth the glory of their Creator to all peoples (see Ps 19:2-5a).
- Psalm 97:7 Those who trust in false gods are put to shame. For “our God is in heaven; he does whatever he pleases. Their idols are merely silver and gold, the work of human hands” (Ps 115:3f).
- Psalm 97:8 Cities: literally, “daughters.” Judgments: see note on Ps 48:12.
- Psalm 97:10 Those who are loyal to the covenant (the righteous) live in the light of God’s presence, where there is fullness of joy. They glorify his holy name; that is, they honor him by their lives.
- Psalm 97:11 Light: see notes on Pss 27:1; 36:10. Name: see note on Ps 5:12.
Psalm 97
New International Version
Psalm 97
New International Version
Psalm 97
1 The Lord reigns,(A) let the earth be glad;(B)
let the distant shores(C) rejoice.
2 Clouds(D) and thick darkness(E) surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.(F)
3 Fire(G) goes before(H) him
and consumes(I) his foes on every side.
4 His lightning(J) lights up the world;
the earth(K) sees and trembles.(L)
5 The mountains melt(M) like wax(N) before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.(O)
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,(P)
and all peoples see his glory.(Q)
7 All who worship images(R) are put to shame,(S)
those who boast in idols(T)—
worship him,(U) all you gods!(V)
8 Zion hears and rejoices
and the villages of Judah are glad(W)
because of your judgments,(X) Lord.
9 For you, Lord, are the Most High(Y) over all the earth;(Z)
you are exalted(AA) far above all gods.
10 Let those who love the Lord hate evil,(AB)
for he guards(AC) the lives of his faithful ones(AD)
and delivers(AE) them from the hand of the wicked.(AF)
11 Light shines[a](AG) on the righteous(AH)
and joy on the upright in heart.(AI)
12 Rejoice in the Lord,(AJ) you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name.(AK)
Footnotes
- Psalm 97:11 One Hebrew manuscript and ancient versions (see also 112:4); most Hebrew manuscripts Light is sown
Psalm 97
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Psalm 97
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Psalm 97[a]
The Divine Ruler of All
I
1 The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.(A)
2 Cloud and darkness surround him;
justice and right are the foundation of his throne.(B)
3 Fire goes before him,
consuming his foes on every side.
4 His lightening illumines the world;
the earth sees and trembles.(C)
5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.(D)
6 The heavens proclaim his justice;
all peoples see his glory.(E)
II
7 All who serve idols are put to shame,
who glory in worthless things;
all gods[b] bow down before him.(F)
8 Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice
because of your judgments, O Lord.(G)
9 For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth,(H)
exalted far above all gods.
10 You who love the Lord, hate evil,
he protects the souls of the faithful,(I)
rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light dawns for the just,
and gladness for the honest of heart.(J)
12 Rejoice in the Lord, you just,
and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.(K)
Footnotes
- Psalm 97 The hymn begins with God appearing in a storm, a traditional picture of some ancient Near Eastern gods (Ps 97:1–6); cf. Ps 18:8–16; Mi 1:3–4; Hb 3:3–15. Israel rejoices in the overthrowing of idol worshipers and their gods (Ps 97:7–9) and the rewarding of the faithful righteous (Ps 97:10–12).
- 97:7 All gods: divine beings thoroughly subordinate to Israel’s God. The Greek translates “angels,” an interpretation adopted by Hb 1:6.
Psalm 97
1599 Geneva Bible
Psalm 97
1599 Geneva Bible
97 1 The Prophet exhorteth all to rejoice for the coming of the kingdom of Christ, 7 dreadful to the rebels and idolaters, 8 and joyful to the just, whom he exhorteth to innocency, 12 to rejoicing and thanksgiving.
1 The [a]Lord reigneth: let the earth rejoice: let the [b]multitude of the Isles be glad.
2 [c]Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
3 There shall go a fire before him, and burn up his enemies round about.
4 His lightnings gave light unto the world: the earth saw it and was [d]afraid.
5 The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
7 [e]Confounded be all they that serve graven images, and that glory in idols: worship him [f]all ye gods.
8 Zion heard of it, and was glad: and the [g]daughters of Judah rejoiced, because of thy judgments, O Lord.
9 For thou, Lord, art most High above all the earth: thou art much exalted above all gods.
10 Ye that [h]love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his Saints: he will deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
11 [i]Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice ye righteous in the Lord, and give thanks for his holy [j]remembrance.
Footnotes
- Psalm 97:1 He showeth that where God reigneth, there is all felicity, and spiritual joy.
- Psalm 97:1 For the Gospel shall not be only preached in Judea, but through all isles and countries.
- Psalm 97:2 He is thus described to keep his enemies in fear, which commonly contemn God’s power.
- Psalm 97:4 This fear bringeth not the wicked to true obedience, but maketh them to run away from God.
- Psalm 97:7 He signifieth that God’s judgments are in a readiness to destroy the idolaters.
- Psalm 97:7 Let all that which is esteemed in the world fall down before him.
- Psalm 97:8 The Jews shall have occasion to rejoice, that the Gentiles are made partakers with them of God’s favor.
- Psalm 97:10 He requireth two things of his children: the one that they detest vice, the other, that they put their trust in God for their deliverance.
- Psalm 97:11 Though God’s deliverance appear not suddenly, yet it is sown and laid up in store for them.
- Psalm 97:12 Be mindful of his benefits and only trust in his defense.
Psalm 97
King James Version
Psalm 97
King James Version
97 The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.
9 For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.