The Lord Reigns

97 (A)The Lord reigns, (B)let the earth rejoice;
    let the many (C)coastlands be glad!
(D)Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
    (E)righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
(F)Fire goes before him
    and burns up his adversaries all around.
His (G)lightnings light up the world;
    the earth sees and (H)trembles.
The mountains (I)melt like (J)wax before the Lord,
    before (K)the Lord of all the earth.

(L)The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    and all (M)the peoples see his glory.
All worshipers of images are (N)put to shame,
    who make their boast in (O)worthless idols;
    (P)worship him, all you gods!

Zion hears and (Q)is glad,
    and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
    because of your judgments, O Lord.
For you, O Lord, are (R)most high over all the earth;
    you are exalted far above (S)all gods.

10 O you who love the Lord, (T)hate evil!
    He (U)preserves the lives of his (V)saints;
    he (W)delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 (X)Light (Y)is sown[a] for the righteous,
    and joy for the upright in heart.
12 (Z)Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
    and (AA)give thanks to his holy name!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 97:11 Most Hebrew manuscripts; one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac, Jerome Light dawns

Yahweh’s Glorious Reign

97 Yahweh is king! Let the earth rejoice;
let many coastlands be glad.
Cloud and thick darkness are surrounding him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him,
and devours his enemies round about.
His lightnings light the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Yahweh,
at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens declare his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
Let all who serve an image be ashamed,
those who boast about idols.[a]
Worship him, all you gods.
Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice
because of your judgments, O Yahweh.
For you, O Yahweh, are most high over all the earth.
You are highly[b] exalted above all gods.
10 You who love Yahweh, hate evil.
He protects the lives of his faithful;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name.[c]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 97:7 This word for idols suggests something worthless or insignificant
  2. Psalm 97:9 Hebrew “very”
  3. Psalm 97:12 Literally “to his holy remembrance” or “to his memorable holiness”