Psalm 97

Worship.

 


 

WORSHIP

 

VERSE 1. The LORD reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad!

Other Translations:

  • NAB. The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad.
  • NIV. The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.
  • NLT. The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice! Let the farthest coastlands be glad.
  • WEB. The LORD reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad!

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

the earth. All nations. The Old Testament foresees Gentiles coming to faith in the One God of Israel and bringing gifts to Jerusalem. Here are the key Bible verses about this »

 

VERSE 2. Clouds and darkness are around him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Other Translations:

  • NAB. Cloud and darkness surround him; justice and right are the foundation of his throne.
  • NIV. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
  • NLT. Dark clouds surround him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
  • WEB. Clouds and darkness are around him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

Clouds and darkness. This is a picture of the magnificent reigning appearance of the LORD.

This also figures mystical experiences during Contemplative Prayer.

See The Dark Night by John of the Cross.

 

VERSE 3. A fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries on every side.

Other Translations:

  • NAB. Fire goes before him, consuming his foes on every side.
  • NIV. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side.
  • NLT. Fire spreads ahead of him and burns up all his foes.
  • WEB. A fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries on every side.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

A fire goes before him. A consuming fire is another a manifestation of the appearance of the LORD, for by it he destroys his foes.

This also figures mystical experiences during Unitive Prayer.

See The Living Flame of Love by John of the Cross.

Nahum 1:6. Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the fierceness of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken apart by him.

 

VERSE 4. His lightning lights up the world. The earth sees, and trembles.

Other Translations:

  • NAB. His lightning illumines the world; the earth sees and trembles.
  • NIV. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
  • NLT. His lightning flashes out across the world. The earth sees and trembles.
  • WEB. His lightning lights up the world. The earth sees, and trembles.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

lightning lights up the world. That is true of literal lightning. And it is true of our relationship with God. He lights up our world.

 

VERSE 5. The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

Other Translations:

  • NAB. The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
  • NIV. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.
  • NLT. The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
  • WEB. The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

mountains melt like wax. Mountains are among the most solid things we know. Yet before the awesome power of the LORD God, they will melt. And so will our troubles. Read more »

 

VERSE 6. The heavens declare his righteousness. All the peoples have seen his glory.

Other Translations:

  • NAB. The heavens proclaim his justice; all peoples see his glory.
  • NIV. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.
  • NLT. The heavens proclaim his righteousness; every nation sees his glory.
  • WEB. The heavens declare his righteousness. All the peoples have seen his glory.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

The heavens declare his righteousness. The cosmos itself will shout the glory of God.

 

VERSE 7. Let all them be shamed who serve engraved images, who boast in their idols. Worship him, all you gods!

Other Translations:

  • NAB. All who serve idols are put to shame, who glory in worthless things; all gods bow down before him.
  • NIV. All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols — worship him, all you gods!
  • NLT. Those who worship idols are disgraced—all who brag about their worthless gods — for every god must bow to him.
  • WEB. Let all them be shamed who serve engraved images, who boast in their idols. Worship him, all you gods!

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

images. The Hebrew word is פֶ֗סֶל (“pesel”). It means carved image, graven image, idol.

you gods. The Hebrew word is אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (“Elohim”).

 

VERSE 8. Zion heard and was glad. The daughters of Judah rejoiced, because of your judgments, LORD.

Other Translations:

  • NAB. Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments, O LORD.
  • NIV. Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are gladbecause of your judgments, Lord.
  • NLT. Jerusalem has heard and rejoiced, and all the towns of Judah are glad because of your justice, O LORD!
  • WEB. Zion heard and was glad. The daughters of Judah rejoiced because of your judgments, LORD.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

Zion heard and was glad. When we learn what God has done for us, it’s uplifting and inspiring and exciting!

 

VERSE 9. For you, LORD, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods.

Other Translations:

  • NAB. For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods.
  • NIV. For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
  • NLT. For you, O LORD, are supreme over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
  • WEB. For you, LORD, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

 

VERSE 10. You who love the LORD, hate evil. He preserves the souls of his holy ones. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

Other Translations:

  • NAB. You who love the LORD, hate evil, he protects the souls of the faithful, rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
  • NIV. Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
  • NLT. You who love the LORD, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.
  • WEB. You who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the souls of his holy ones. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

hate evil. That is, live in faithful obedience to God’s righteous standards.

He preserves the souls of his holy ones. God will protect us and deliver us.

He delivers them out … of the wicked. The LORD sets us free from the wicked. Get ready to be set free!

 

VERSE 11. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

Other Translations:

  • NAB. Light dawns for the just, and gladness for the honest of heart.
  • NIV. Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.
  • NLT. Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right.
  • WEB. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

gladness for the upright in heart. We are to be marked by gladness. Our gladness is a primary way for us to praise the LORD.

 

VERSE 12. Be glad in the LORD, you righteous people! Give thanks to his holy Name.

Other Translations:

  • NAB. Rejoice in the LORD, you just, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
  • NIV. Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.
  • NLT. May all who are godly rejoice in the LORD and praise his holy name!
  • WEB. Be glad in the LORD, you righteous people! Give thanks to his holy Name.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

Be glad. The Hebrew word is שִׂמְח֣וּ (“samach”). It means rejoice, be glad

righteous. The Hebrew word is צַ֭דִּיקִים (“tsaddiq”). It means righteous, just, blameless, innocent.

Give thanks. The Hebrew word is וְ֝הוֹד֗וּ (“yadah”). It means thanks, praise.

 


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PSALMS

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 1617, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 3435, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 5253, 5455, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 7071, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 888990, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104105, 106, 107108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148149, 150

Deuterocanonical chapter: 151

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, MemorizeDavid’s Fasting

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.