Print Page Options Listen to Psalm 97

A Song of Praise to the Sovereign Lord

97 The Lord (A)reigns;
Let the earth rejoice;
Let the multitude of [a]isles be glad!

(B)Clouds and darkness surround Him;
(C)Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
(D)A fire goes before Him,
And burns up His enemies round about.
(E)His lightnings light the world;
The earth sees and trembles.
(F)The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
(G)The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples see His glory.

(H)Let all be put to shame who serve carved images,
Who boast of idols.
(I)Worship Him, all you gods.
Zion hears and is glad,
And the daughters of Judah rejoice
Because of Your judgments, O Lord.
For You, Lord, are (J)most high above all the earth;
(K)You are exalted far above all gods.

10 You who love the Lord, (L)hate evil!
(M)He preserves the souls of His saints;
(N)He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 (O)Light is sown for the righteous,
And gladness for the upright in heart.
12 (P)Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous,
(Q)And give thanks [b]at the remembrance of [c]His holy name.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 97:1 Or coastlands
  2. Psalm 97:12 Or for the memory
  3. Psalm 97:12 Or His holiness

The Lords Power and Dominion.

97 (A)The Lord [a]reigns, may the (B)earth rejoice;
May the many [b](C)islands be joyful.
(D)Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
(E)Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
(F)Fire goes before Him
And (G)burns up His enemies all around.
His (H)lightning lit up the world;
The earth saw it and (I)trembled.
The mountains (J)melted like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the (K)Lord of the whole earth.
The (L)heavens declare His righteousness,
And (M)all the peoples have seen His glory.

May all those be ashamed who serve (N)carved images,
Who boast in (O)idols;
[c](P)Worship Him, all you [d]gods.
Zion [e]heard this and (Q)was joyful,
And the daughters of Judah have rejoiced
Because of Your judgments, Lord.
For You are the Lord (R)Most High over all the earth;
You are exalted far (S)above all [f]gods.

10 (T)Hate evil, you who love the Lord,
Who (U)watches over the souls of His godly ones;
He (V)saves them from the hand of the wicked.
11 (W)Light is sown like seed for the righteous,
And (X)gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Be (Y)joyful in the Lord, you righteous ones,
And (Z)praise [g]the mention of His holy name.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 97:1 Or has assumed Kingship
  2. Psalm 97:1 Or coastlands
  3. Psalm 97:7 Or All the gods have worshiped Him
  4. Psalm 97:7 Or supernatural powers
  5. Psalm 97:8 Or possibly hears and is glad
  6. Psalm 97:9 Or supernatural powers
  7. Psalm 97:12 Lit for the memory of His holiness

The Lord’s Power and Dominion.

97 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands and coastlands be glad.

Clouds and thick darkness surround Him [as at Sinai];
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.(A)

Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries on all sides.

His lightnings have illuminated the world;
The earth has seen and trembled.

The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples see His glory and brilliance.


Let all those be [deeply] ashamed who serve carved images,
Who boast in idols.
Worship Him, all you gods!(B)

Zion heard this and was glad,
And the daughters (cities) of Judah rejoiced [in relief]
Because of Your judgments, O Lord.

For You are the Lord Most High over all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods.

10 
You who love the Lord, hate evil;
He protects the souls of His godly ones (believers),
He rescues them from the hand of the wicked.(C)
11 
Light is sown [like seed] for the righteous and illuminates their path,
And [irrepressible] joy [is spread] for the upright in heart [who delight in His favor and protection].
12 
Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones [those whose moral and spiritual integrity places them in right standing with God],
And praise and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

Psalm 97

The Lord reigns,(A) let the earth be glad;(B)
    let the distant shores(C) rejoice.
Clouds(D) and thick darkness(E) surround him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.(F)
Fire(G) goes before(H) him
    and consumes(I) his foes on every side.
His lightning(J) lights up the world;
    the earth(K) sees and trembles.(L)
The mountains melt(M) like wax(N) before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.(O)
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,(P)
    and all peoples see his glory.(Q)

All who worship images(R) are put to shame,(S)
    those who boast in idols(T)
    worship him,(U) all you gods!(V)

Zion hears and rejoices
    and the villages of Judah are glad(W)
    because of your judgments,(X) Lord.
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)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 97:11 One Hebrew manuscript and ancient versions (see also 112:4); most Hebrew manuscripts Light is sown

97 The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.

His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.

The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.

Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.

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.