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The Lord’s Power and Dominion.

97 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands and coastlands be glad.

Clouds and thick darkness surround Him [as at Sinai];
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.(A)

Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries on all sides.

His lightnings have illuminated the world;
The earth has seen and trembled.

The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples see His glory and brilliance.


Let all those be [deeply] ashamed who serve carved images,
Who boast in idols.
Worship Him, all you gods!(B)

Zion heard this and was glad,
And the daughters (cities) of Judah rejoiced [in relief]
Because of Your judgments, O Lord.

For You are the Lord Most High over all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods.

10 
You who love the Lord, hate evil;
He protects the souls of His godly ones (believers),
He rescues them from the hand of the wicked.(C)
11 
Light is sown [like seed] for the righteous and illuminates their path,
And [irrepressible] joy [is spread] for the upright in heart [who delight in His favor and protection].
12 
Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones [those whose moral and spiritual integrity places them in right standing with God],
And praise and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

A Call to Praise the Lord for His Righteousness.

A [a]Psalm.

98 O sing to the Lord a new song,
For He has done marvelous and wonderful things;
His right hand and His holy arm have [b]gained the victory for Him.

The Lord has made known His salvation;
He has [openly] revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.(D)

He has [graciously] remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have witnessed the salvation of our God.(E)


Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth;
Shout [in jubilation] and sing for joy and sing praises.

Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
With the lyre and the sound of melody.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn
Shout with joy before the King, the Lord.


Let the sea thunder and roar, and all the things it contains,
The world and those who dwell in it.

Let the rivers clap their hands;
Let the mountains sing together for joy and delight

Before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth;
He will judge the world with righteousness
And the peoples with fairness.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 98:1 The ancient rabbis called this song “orphaned” because it is anonymous and has no description with the word “Psalm” (e.g. “A Psalm of Thanksgiving”).
  2. Psalm 98:1 Or accomplished salvation.

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)

Psalm 98

A psalm.

Sing to the Lord(AL) a new song,(AM)
    for he has done marvelous things;(AN)
his right hand(AO) and his holy arm(AP)
    have worked salvation(AQ) for him.
The Lord has made his salvation known(AR)
    and revealed his righteousness(AS) to the nations.(AT)
He has remembered(AU) his love
    and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth(AV) have seen
    the salvation of our God.(AW)

Shout for joy(AX) to the Lord, all the earth,
    burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp,(AY)
    with the harp and the sound of singing,(AZ)
with trumpets(BA) and the blast of the ram’s horn(BB)
    shout for joy(BC) before the Lord, the King.(BD)

Let the sea(BE) resound, and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it.(BF)
Let the rivers clap their hands,(BG)
    let the mountains(BH) sing together for joy;
let them sing before the Lord,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples with equity.(BI)

Footnotes

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