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Psalm 97-99
Easy-to-Read Version
Psalm 97-99
Easy-to-Read Version
97 The Lord rules, and the earth is happy.
All the faraway lands are happy.
2 Thick, dark clouds surround him.
Goodness and justice make his kingdom strong.
3 Fire goes before him
and destroys his enemies.
4 His lightning flashes in the sky.
The earth sees it and trembles with fear.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The skies tell about his goodness,
and the nations see his glory.
7 People worship their idols.
They brag about their “gods.”
But they will be embarrassed.
And all their “gods” will bow down before the Lord.
8 Zion, listen and be happy!
Cities of Judah, be glad!
Rejoice because the Lord’s decisions are fair.
9 Lord Most High, you really are the ruler of the earth.
You are much better than the “gods.”
10 Hate evil, you who love the Lord.
He protects his followers and saves them from evil people.
11 Light and happiness shine on those
who want to do right.
12 Good people, be happy in the Lord!
Praise his holy name!
A song of praise.
98 Sing a new song[a] to the Lord,
because he has done amazing things!
His powerful and holy right arm[b]
has brought him another victory.
2 The Lord showed the nations his power to save.
He showed them his goodness.
3 He has kept his promise of love and loyalty to the people of Israel.
People everywhere have seen our God’s power to save.
4 Everyone on earth, shout with joy to the Lord.
Start singing happy songs of praise!
5 Praise the Lord with harps.
Yes, praise him with music from the harps.
6 Blow the pipes and horns,
and shout for joy to the Lord our King!
7 Let the sea and everything in it,
the earth and all who live in it shout his praise!
8 Rivers, clap your hands!
All together now, mountains sing out!
9 Sing before the Lord
because he is coming to judge the world.
He will rule the world fairly.
He will rule the people with goodness.
99 The Lord is King,
so let the nations shake with fear.
He sits as King above the Cherub angels,
so let the whole earth shake.
2 The Lord in Zion is great!
He is the great leader over all people.
3 Let all the nations praise your name.
Your name is great and awesome.
Your name is holy.
4 You are the powerful King who loves justice.
You have made things right.
You have brought goodness and fairness to Jacob.
5 Praise the Lord our God,
and bow down before his footstool,[c] for he is holy.
6 Moses and Aaron were some of his priests,
and Samuel was one of the men who called on his name.
They prayed to the Lord,
and he answered them.
7 God spoke from the tall cloud,
and they obeyed his commands
and the law he gave them.
8 Lord our God, you answered their prayers.
You showed them that you are a forgiving God
and that you punish people for the evil they do.
9 Praise the Lord our God.
Bow down toward his holy mountain and worship him.
The Lord our God is holy!
Footnotes
- Psalm 98:1 new song Whenever God did a new and wonderful thing for his people, they would write a new song about it.
- Psalm 98:1 holy right arm This pictures God as a warrior-king. The right arm symbolizes his power and authority. “Holy” may refer to the special cleansing and dedication that Israelites performed before going into battle.
- Psalm 99:5 footstool This probably means the Temple. See “Temple” in the Word List.
Psalm 97-99
New International Version
Psalm 97-99
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)
Psalm 98
A psalm.
1 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.
2 The Lord has made his salvation known(AR)
and revealed his righteousness(AS) to the nations.(AT)
3 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)
4 Shout for joy(AX) to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the Lord with the harp,(AY)
with the harp and the sound of singing,(AZ)
6 with trumpets(BA) and the blast of the ram’s horn(BB)—
shout for joy(BC) before the Lord, the King.(BD)
7 Let the sea(BE) resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.(BF)
8 Let the rivers clap their hands,(BG)
let the mountains(BH) sing together for joy;
9 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)
Psalm 99
1 The Lord reigns,(BJ)
let the nations tremble;(BK)
he sits enthroned(BL) between the cherubim,(BM)
let the earth shake.
2 Great is the Lord(BN) in Zion;(BO)
he is exalted(BP) over all the nations.
3 Let them praise(BQ) your great and awesome name(BR)—
he is holy.(BS)
4 The King(BT) is mighty, he loves justice(BU)—
you have established equity;(BV)
in Jacob you have done
what is just and right.(BW)
5 Exalt(BX) the Lord our God
and worship at his footstool;
he is holy.
Footnotes
- Psalm 97:11 One Hebrew manuscript and ancient versions (see also 112:4); most Hebrew manuscripts Light is sown
- Psalm 99:8 Or God, / an avenger of the wrongs done to them
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.