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Psalm 33:4-9
New Catholic Bible
Psalm 33:4-9
New Catholic Bible
4 [a]For the word of the Lord is true,
and he is faithful in everything he does.
5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is filled with his kindness.
6 The heavens were made by the word[b] of the Lord,
and all their host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea as in a bowl;[c]
he places the deep in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world revere him.[d]
9 [e]For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
Footnotes
- Psalm 33:4 The psalmist celebrates especially the perfections of the Lord. His nature and his self-revelation are in complete harmony; he is faithful (true) in everything that he does. He also loves righteousness and justice, i.e., he carries out his plans by his verdicts, rule, and covenant relationship with his people. Furthermore, his kindness is evident in his works on earth; he shows the same loyalty, constancy, and love toward the rest of creation that he shows to his people (v. 22). Kindness: see note on Ps 6:5.
- Psalm 33:6 The Fathers of the Church applied this verse to the Blessed Trinity: Lord = Father; word = Son; breath = Spirit. All their host: the stars of the sky were viewed as an army (see Neh 9:6; Isa 40:26; 45:12; Jer 33:22). See also note on Ps 24:10.
- Psalm 33:7 He gathers the waters . . . as in a bowl: God rules the dangerous waters so easily that it is like a person putting water into a bowl (see Ps 104:9; Gen 1:9f; Job 38:8-11; Prov 8:29; Jer 5:22).
- Psalm 33:8 The nations of the world feared many gods, each of whom reigned over the various heavenly bodies and over the land, sea, and sky. But the psalmist stresses that the Lord is the Creator-Ruler of the world and everything in it. Hence, he calls upon all nations and all peoples to fear the Lord because of his greatness and his goodness.
- Psalm 33:9 Whatever God spoke came into existence (see Heb 11:3). Everything reflects his wise rule. The nations are completely under his control (see Prov 19:21; 21:30; Isa 8:10; 19:17; 46:10f; Jer 29:11; Mic 4:12). God’s providence works out his purposes. Heart: see note on Ps 4:8.
