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Psalm 97

Yahweh rules as king.
    Let the earth rejoice.
    Let all the islands be joyful.
Clouds and darkness surround him.
    Righteousness and justice are the foundations of his throne.
Fire spreads ahead of him.
    It burns his enemies who surround him.
His flashes of lightning light up the world.
    The earth sees them and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax in the presence of Yahweh,
    in the presence of the Adonay of the whole earth.
The heavens tell about his righteousness,
    and all the people of the world see his glory.

Everyone who worships idols
    and brags about false gods will be put to shame.
    All the gods will bow to him.

Zion hears about this and rejoices.
    The people of Judah are delighted with your judgments, O Yahweh.
You, O Yahweh Elyon, are above the whole earth.
    You are highest. You are above all the gods.
10 Let those who love Yahweh hate evil.
    The one who guards the lives of his godly ones
    will rescue them from the power of wicked people.
11 Light dawns for righteous people[a]
    and joy for those whose motives are decent.
12 Find joy in Yahweh, you righteous people.
    Give thanks to him as you remember how holy he is.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 97:11 One Hebrew manuscript, Greek, Syriac, Latin; other Hebrew manuscripts “Light is planted for righteous people.”

Psalm 97

The Majestic King

The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice;
let the many coasts and islands be glad.(A)

Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.(B)
Fire goes before Him
and burns up His foes on every side.(C)
His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.(D)
The mountains melt like wax
at the presence of the Lord
at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.(E)

The heavens proclaim His righteousness;(F)
all the peoples see His glory.(G)

All who serve carved images,
those who boast in idols, will be put to shame.(H)
All the gods[a] must worship Him.(I)

Zion hears and is glad,
and the towns[b] of Judah rejoice
because of Your judgments, Lord.(J)
For You, Lord,
are the Most High over all the earth;
You are exalted above all the gods.(K)

10 You who love the Lord, hate evil!(L)
He protects the lives of His godly ones;(M)
He rescues them from the power of the wicked.(N)
11 Light dawns[c][d] for the righteous,
gladness for the upright in heart.(O)
12 Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous ones,
and praise His holy name.[e](P)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 97:7 LXX, Syr read All His angels; Heb 1:6
  2. Psalm 97:8 Lit daughters
  3. Psalm 97:11 One Hb ms, LXX, some ancient versions read rises to shine; Ps 112:4
  4. Psalm 97:11 Lit Light is sown
  5. Psalm 97:12 Or memory, of His holiness; lit praise the mention