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Psalm 97[a]

The Divine Ruler of All

I

The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice;
    let the many islands be glad.(A)
Cloud and darkness surround him;
    justice and right are the foundation of his throne.(B)
Fire goes before him,
    consuming his foes on every side.
His lightening illumines the world;
    the earth sees and trembles.(C)
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.(D)
The heavens proclaim his justice;
    all peoples see his glory.(E)

II

All who serve idols are put to shame,
    who glory in worthless things;
    all gods[b] bow down before him.(F)
Zion hears and is glad,
    and the daughters of Judah rejoice
    because of your judgments, O Lord.(G)
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

  1. 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).
  2. 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

The Glory of God’s Reign

The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice;
    let the many coastlands be glad!
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him,
    and consumes his adversaries on every side.
His lightnings light up the world;
    the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness;
    and all the peoples behold his glory.
All worshipers of images are put to shame,
    those who make their boast in worthless idols;
    all gods bow down before him.
Zion hears and is glad,
    and the towns[a] of Judah rejoice,
    because of your judgments, O God.
For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
    you are exalted far above all gods.

10 The Lord loves those who hate[b] evil;
    he guards the lives of his faithful;
    he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light dawns[c] for the righteous,
    and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
    and give thanks to his holy name!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 97:8 Heb daughters
  2. Psalm 97:10 Cn: Heb You who love the Lord hate
  3. Psalm 97:11 Gk Syr Jerome: Heb is sown

God the Supreme Ruler

97 The Lord is king! Earth, be glad!
    Rejoice, you islands of the seas!
Clouds and darkness surround him;
    he rules with righteousness and justice.
Fire goes in front of him
    and burns up his enemies around him.
His lightning lights up the world;
    the earth sees it and trembles.
The hills melt like wax before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    and all the nations see his glory.

Everyone who worships idols is put to shame;
    all the gods bow down[a] before the Lord.
The people of Zion are glad,
    and the cities of Judah rejoice
    because of your judgments, O Lord.
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;[b]
    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.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 97:7 all the gods bow down; or bow down, all gods.
  2. Psalm 97:10 Probable text The Lord loves those who hate evil; Hebrew Hate evil, you who love the Lord.

The Lords Power and Dominion.

97 (A)The Lord [a]reigns, may the (B)earth rejoice;
May the many [b](C)islands be joyful.
(D)Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
(E)Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
(F)Fire goes before Him
And (G)burns up His enemies all around.
His (H)lightning lit up the world;
The earth saw it and (I)trembled.
The mountains (J)melted like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the (K)Lord of the whole earth.
The (L)heavens declare His righteousness,
And (M)all the peoples have seen His glory.

May all those be ashamed who serve (N)carved images,
Who boast in (O)idols;
[c](P)Worship Him, all you [d]gods.
Zion [e]heard this and (Q)was joyful,
And the daughters of Judah have rejoiced
Because of Your judgments, Lord.
For You are the Lord (R)Most High over all the earth;
You are exalted far (S)above all [f]gods.

10 (T)Hate evil, you who love the Lord,
Who (U)watches over the souls of His godly ones;
He (V)saves them from the hand of the wicked.
11 (W)Light is sown like seed for the righteous,
And (X)gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Be (Y)joyful in the Lord, you righteous ones,
And (Z)praise [g]the mention of His holy name.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 97:1 Or has assumed Kingship
  2. Psalm 97:1 Or coastlands
  3. Psalm 97:7 Or All the gods have worshiped Him
  4. Psalm 97:7 Or supernatural powers
  5. Psalm 97:8 Or possibly hears and is glad
  6. Psalm 97:9 Or supernatural powers
  7. Psalm 97:12 Lit for the memory of His holiness

Psalm 97

The Lord reigns,(A) let the earth be glad;(B)
    let the distant shores(C) rejoice.
Clouds(D) and thick darkness(E) surround him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.(F)
Fire(G) goes before(H) him
    and consumes(I) his foes on every side.
His lightning(J) lights up the world;
    the earth(K) sees and trembles.(L)
The mountains melt(M) like wax(N) before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.(O)
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,(P)
    and all peoples see his glory.(Q)

All who worship images(R) are put to shame,(S)
    those who boast in idols(T)
    worship him,(U) all you gods!(V)

Zion hears and rejoices
    and the villages of Judah are glad(W)
    because of your judgments,(X) Lord.
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

  1. Psalm 97:11 One Hebrew manuscript and ancient versions (see also 112:4); most Hebrew manuscripts Light is sown