1 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
9 For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
1 The LORD H3068 reigneth; H4427 let the earth H776 rejoice; H1523 let the multitude H7227 of isles H339 be glad H8055 thereof.
2 Clouds H6051 and darkness H6205 are round about H5439 him: righteousness H6664 and judgment H4941 are the habitation H4349 of his throne. H3678
3 A fire H784 goeth H3212 before H6440 him, and burneth up H3857 his enemies H6862 round about. H5439
4 His lightnings H1300 enlightened H215 the world: H8398 the earth H776 saw, H7200 and trembled. H2342
5 The hills H2022 melted H4549 like wax H1749 at the presence H6440 of the LORD, H3068 at the presence H6440 of the Lord H113 of the whole earth. H776
6 The heavens H8064 declare H5046 his righteousness, H6664 and all the people H5971 see H7200 his glory. H3519
7 Confounded H954 be all they that serve H5647 graven images, H6459 that boast H1984 themselves of idols: H457 worship H7812 him, all ye gods. H430
8 Zion H6726 heard, H8085 and was glad; H8055 and the daughters H1323 of Judah H3063 rejoiced H1523 because of thy judgments, H4941 O LORD. H3068
9 For thou, LORD, H3068 art high above H5945 all the earth: H776 thou art exalted H5927 far above H3966 all gods. H430
10 Ye that love H157 the LORD, H3068 hate H8130 evil: H7451 he preserveth H8104 the souls H5315 of his saints; H2623 he delivereth H5337 them out of the hand H3027 of the wicked. H7563
11 Light H216 is sown H2232 for the righteous, H6662 and gladness H8057 for the upright H3477 in heart. H3820
12 Rejoice H8055 in the LORD, H3068 ye righteous; H6662 and give thanks H3034 at the remembrance H2143 of his holiness. H6944
1 Jehovah reigneth; let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 A fire goeth before him, And burneth up his adversaries round about.
4 His lightnings lightened the world: The earth saw, and trembled.
5 The mountains melted like wax at the presence of Jehovah, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, And all the peoples have seen his glory.
7 Let all them be put to shame that serve graven images, That boast themselves of idols: Worship him, all ye gods.
8 Zion heard and was glad, And the daughters of Judah rejoiced, Because of thy judgments, O Jehovah.
9 For thou, Jehovah, art most high above all the earth: Thou art exalted far above all gods.
10 O ye that love Jehovah, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of his saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Be glad in Jehovah, ye righteous; And give thanks to his holy memorial `name'. Psalm 98 A Psalm.
1 Jehovah hath reigned, The earth is joyful, many isles rejoice.
2 Cloud and darkness `are' round about Him, Righteousness and judgment the basis of His throne.
3 Fire before Him goeth, And burneth round about His adversaries.
4 Lightened have His lightnings the world, The earth hath seen, and is pained.
5 Hills, like wax, melted before Jehovah, Before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens declared His righteousness, And all the peoples have seen His honour.
7 Ashamed are all servants of a graven image, Those boasting themselves in idols, Bow yourselves to him, all ye gods.
8 Zion hath heard and rejoiceth, And daughters of Judah are joyful, Because of Thy judgments, O Jehovah.
9 For Thou, Jehovah, `art' Most High over all the earth, Greatly Thou hast been exalted over all gods.
10 Ye who love Jehovah, hate evil, He is keeping the souls of His saints, From the hand of the wicked he delivereth them.
11 Light `is' sown for the righteous, And for the upright of heart -- joy.
12 Rejoice, ye righteous, in Jehovah, And give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness!
1 Jehovah reigneth: let the earth be glad, let the many isles rejoice.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his adversaries round about.
4 His lightnings lightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
5 The mountains melted like wax at the presence of Jehovah, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.
7 Ashamed be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols. Worship him, all ye gods.
8 Zion heard, and rejoiced; and the daughters of Judah were glad, because of thy judgments, O Jehovah.
9 For thou, Jehovah, art the Most High above all the earth; thou art exalted exceedingly above all gods.
10 Ye that love Jehovah, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints, he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in Jehovah, ye righteous; and give thanks in remembrance of his holiness.
1 Yahweh reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad!
2 Clouds and darkness are around him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 A fire goes before him, And burns up his adversaries on every side.
4 His lightning lights up the world. The earth sees, and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Yahweh, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness. All the peoples have seen his glory.
7 Let all them be shamed who serve engraved images, Who boast in their idols. Worship him, all you gods!
8 Zion heard and was glad. The daughters of Judah rejoiced, Because of your judgments, Yahweh.
9 For you, Yahweh, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods.
10 You who love Yahweh, hate evil. He preserves the souls of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous people! Give thanks to his holy Name.
1 The Lord is King, let the earth have joy; let all the sea-lands be glad.
2 Dark clouds are round him; his kingdom is based on righteousness and right judging.
3 Fire goes before him, burning up all those who are against him round about.
4 His bright flames give light to the world; the earth saw it with fear.
5 The mountains became like wax at the coming of the Lord, at the coming of the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens gave out the news of his righteousness, and all the people saw his glory.
7 Shamed be all those who give worship to images, and take pride in false gods; give him worship, all you gods.
8 Zion gave ear and was glad; and the daughters of Judah were full of joy, because of your decisions, O Lord.
9 For you, Lord, are most high over the earth; you are lifted up over all other gods.
10 You who are lovers of the Lord, be haters of evil; he keeps the souls of his saints; he takes them out of the hand of sinners.
11 Light is shining on the lovers of righteousness, and for the upright in heart there is joy.
12 Be glad in the Lord, you upright men; praising the memory of his holy name.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 97
Commentary on Psalms 97 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
The Breaking Through of the Kingdom of God, the Judge and Saviour
This Psalm, too, has the coming of Jahve, who enters upon His kingdom through judgment, as its theme, and the watchword “Jahve is King” as its key-note. The lxx inscribes it: τῷ Δαυίδ ὅτε ἡ γῆ αὐτοῦ καθίσταται ( καθίστατο ); Jerome: quando terra ejus restituta est . The τῷ Δαυίδ is worthless; the time of restoration, from which it takes its rise, is the post-exilic, for it is composed, as mosaic-work, out of the earlier original passages of Davidic and Asaphic Psalms and of the prophets, more especially of Isaiah, and is entirely an expression of the religious consciousness which resulted from the Exile.
We have here nothing but echoes of the older literature: Psalms 97:1, cf. Isaiah 42:10-12; Isaiah 51:5; Psalms 97:2 , cf. Psalms 18:10, Psalms 18:12; Psalms 97:2 = Psalms 89:15; Psalms 97:3 , cf. Psalms 50:3; Psalms 18:9; Psalms 97:3 , cf. Isaiah 42:25. Beginning with the visible coming of the kingdom of God in the present, with מלך ה the poet takes his stand upon the standpoint of the kingdom which is come. With it also comes rich material for universal joy. תּגל is indicative, as in Psalms 96:11 and frequently. רבּים are all, for all of them are in fact many (cf. Isaiah 52:15). The description of the theophany, for which the way is preparing in Psalms 97:2, also reminds one of Hab. 3. God's enshrouding Himself in darkness bears witness to His judicial earnestness. Because He comes as Judge, the basis of His royal throne and of His judgment-seat is also called to mind. His harbinger is fire, which consumes His adversaries on every side, as that which broke forth out of the pillar of cloud once consumed the Egyptians.
Again we have nothing but echoes of the older literature: Psalms 97:4 = Psalms 77:19; Psalms 97:4 , cf. Psalms 77:17; Psalms 97:5 , cf. Micah 1:4; Psalms 97:5 , cf. Micah 4:13; Psalms 97:6 = Psalms 50:6; Psalms 97:6 , cf. Isaiah 35:2; Isaiah 40:5; Isaiah 52:10; Isaiah 66:18. The poet goes on to describe that which is future with historical certainty. That which Psalms 77:19 says of the manifestation of God in the earlier times he transfers to the revelation of God in the last time. The earth sees it, and begins to tremble in consequence of it. The reading ותּחל , according to Hitzig (cf. Ew. §232, b ) traditional, is, however, only an error of pointing that has been propagated; the correct reading is the reading of Heidenheim and Baer, restored according to MSS, ותּחל (cf. 1 Samuel 31:3), like ותּבן , ותּקם , ותּרם , and ותּשׂם . The figure of the wax is found even in Psalms 68:3; and Jahve is also called “Lord of the whole earth” in Zechariah 4:14; Zechariah 6:5. The proclamation of the heavens is an expression of joy, Psalms 96:11. They proclaim the judicial strictness with which Jahve, in accordance with His promises, carries out His plan of salvation, the realization of which has reached its goal in the fact that all men see the glory of God.
When the glory of Jahve becomes manifest, everything that is opposed to it will be punished and consumed by its light. Those who serve idols will become conscious of their delusion with shame and terror, Isaiah 42:17; Jeremiah 10:14. The superhuman powers (lxx ἄγγελοι ), deified by the heathen, then bow down to Him who alone is Elohim in absolute personality. השׁתּחווּ is not imperative (lxx, Syriac), for as a command this clause would be abrupt and inconsequential, but the perfect of that which actually takes place. The quotation in Hebrews 1:6 is taken from Deuteronomy 32:43, lxx. In Psalms 97:8 (after Psalms 48:12) the survey of the poet again comes back to his own nation. When Zion hears that Jahve has appeared, and all the world and all the powers bow down to Him, she rejoices; for it is in fact her God whose kingship has come to the acknowledge. And all the daughter-churches of the Jewish land exult together with the mother-church over the salvation which dawns through judgments.
This distichic epiphonema ( Psalms 97:9 = Ps 83:19; Psalms 97:9 , cf. Psalms 47:3, 10) might close the Psalm; there follows still, however, a hortatory strophe (which was perhaps not added till later on).
It is true Psalms 97:12 is = Psalms 32:11, Psalms 97:12 = Psalms 30:5, and the promise in Psalms 97:10 is the same as in Psalms 37:28; Psalms 34:21; but as to the rest, particularly Psalms 97:11, this strophe is original. It is an encouraging admonition to fidelity in an age in which an effeminate spirit of looking longingly towards lit. ogling heathenism was rife, and stedfast adherence to Jahve was threatened with loss of life. Those who are faithful in their confession, as in the Maccabaean age ( Ἀσιδαῖοι ), are called חסדיו . The beautiful figure in Psalms 97:11 is misapprehended by the ancient versions, inasmuch as they read זרח (Psalms 112:4) instead of זרע . זרע does not here signify sown = strewn into the earth, but strewn along his life's way, so that he, the righteous one, advances step by step in the light. Hitzig rightly compares ki'dnatai ski'dnatai, used of the dawn and of the sun. Of the former Virgil also says, Et jam prima novo spargebat lumine terras .