Psalm 97 - New Catholic Bible (NCB)

Psalm 97[a]

Divine King and Universal Judge

1 The Lord is King;[b] let the earth exult;
let the distant isles rejoice.
2 [c]Clouds and darkness[d] surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire[e] precedes him,
consuming his enemies on every side.
4 His flashes of lightnwing illumine the world;
the earth sees this and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,[f]
and all the nations behold his glory.
7 All who worship images are put to shame,
those who boast of their worthless idols;
bow down before him, all you gods.[g]
8 Zion hears and rejoices,
and the cities[h] of Judah exult
because of your judgments, O Lord.
9 For you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
10 [i]Let those who love the Lord hate evil,
for he protects the souls of his faithful ones
and rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
11 [j]Light dawns for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 97:1 Here is another hymn to King Yahweh, the only Lord and Savior. His coming is described with the grandiose and traditional images of divine manifestations (see Ex 19:16-20). These produce terror among idolaters and joy in Israel. By the time this song was written, all fear of foreign deities had disappeared among the Israelites; the gods themselves, or at least their worshipers, are invited to come and prostrate themselves before the only God. The people’s faith in the only Lord is henceforth unshakable.
    This majestic Lord is also the God who comes, the one who loves every righteous heart. Furthermore, this God of the universe who is praised is the very same God who is close to us along the paths of life.
    The theme of the kingdom of God was dominant in the teaching of Jesus. According to John’s Gospel, Jesus was enthroned on the cross and in his Resurrection-Ascension. Hence, as Christians pray this psalm, we can rejoice in Christ’s rule.
    According to the superscription in the Septuagint and Vulgate, this psalm was sung when David’s land was established, hence after the return from the Exile.
  2. Psalm 97:1 The Lord is King: see note on Ps 93:1a-b. The distant isles: distant countries accessible only by sea (see 1 Ki 9:26-28; 10:22; Isa 60:9; Jon 1:3).
  3. Psalm 97:2 The psalmist portrays the Lord’s appearance by traditional signs of his manifestation at Sinai. These went on to become the signs used to describe the future day of the Lord, when he would come in glory to establish true justice on the earth (see notes on Pss 18:7; 18:8-16).
  4. Psalm 97:2 Clouds and darkness: these served to veil God’s ineffable glory from human eyes (see Ex 19:9; 1 Ki 8:12). Righteousness and justice: divine attributes personified (see Pss 61:8; 85:12; Prov 16:12; 25:5).
  5. Psalm 97:3 Fire: symbol of God’s wrath (see Pss 21:10; 50:3; 83:15; Deut 4:24; 1 Ki 19:12; Isa 10:17).
  6. Psalm 97:6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness: the heavens show forth the glory of their Creator to all peoples (see Ps 19:2-5a).
  7. Psalm 97:7 Those who trust in false gods are put to shame. For “our God is in heaven; he does whatever he pleases. Their idols are merely silver and gold, the work of human hands” (Ps 115:3f).
  8. Psalm 97:8 Cities: literally, “daughters.” Judgments: see note on Ps 48:12.
  9. Psalm 97:10 Those who are loyal to the covenant (the righteous) live in the light of God’s presence, where there is fullness of joy. They glorify his holy name; that is, they honor him by their lives.
  10. Psalm 97:11 Light: see notes on Pss 27:1; 36:10. Name: see note on Ps 5:12.

You Might Also Like:

Psalm 97 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

97 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 p...
Read More

Psalm 97 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

97 The Lord hath reigned, the earth make full out joy; many isles be glad. (The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad.) 2 Cloud and darkness in his compass; rightfulness and doom is [the] amending of his seat. (Clouds and darkness surround him; righteousness and justice be...
Read More

Psalm 97 - World English Bible (WEB)

97 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...
Read More

Psalm 97 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 971 The Eternal reigns powerful over all; let the earth sing with joy; let the distant islands celebrate.2 Clouds and deep darkness encircle Him; righteousness and justice are the bedrock of His rule.3 Fire precedes Him; it burns away His opponents on all sides.4 With His lightning flashing ab...
Read More

Psalm 97 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Exalted Above All GodsPsalm 971 Adonai reigns, let the earth rejoice,let the many islands be glad.2 Clouds and darkness are all around Him.Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.3 Fire goes before Himand burns up His adversaries on every side.4 His lightning lights up the world—t...
Read More

Psalm 97 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Glory of God’s Reign97 The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!2 Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.3 Fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries round about.4 His lightnings lighten the...
Read More

Psalm 97 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Glory of God’s Reign97 The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!2 Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.3 Fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries round about.4 His lightnings lighten the...
Read More

Psalm 97 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 97The Glory of God’s Reign1 The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.3 Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side.4 His lightnings li...
Read More

Psalm 97 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 97The Glory of God’s Reign1 The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.3 Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side.4 His lightnings li...
Read More

Psalm 97 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 97The Glory of God’s Reign1 The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!(A)2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.(B)3 Fire goes before him and consumes his adversaries on every side.(C)4 His light...
Read More

Psalm 97 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 971 The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice! Let the farthest coastlands be glad.2 Dark clouds surround him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.3 Fire spreads ahead of him and burns up all his foes.4 His lightning flashes out across the world. The earth sees and tremble...
Read More

Psalm 97 - New Life Version (NLV)

God’s Power over the Earth97 The Lord rules. Let the earth be full of joy. Let the many islands be glad. 2 Clouds and darkness are all around Him. His throne is built upon what is right and fair. 3 Fire goes before Him and burns up those who hate Him on every side. 4 His lightning lights up the w...
Read More

Psalm 97 - New King James Version (NKJV)

A Song of Praise to the Sovereign Lord97 The Lord (A)reigns;Let the earth rejoice;Let the multitude of [a]isles be glad! 2 (B)Clouds and darkness surround Him;(C)Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.3 (D)A fire goes before Him,And burns up His enemies round about.4 (E)His light...
Read More

Psalm 97 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 971 The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.3 Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side.4 His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and tre...
Read More

Psalm 97 - New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 971 The Lord reigns,(A) let the earth be glad;(B) let the distant shores(C) rejoice.2 Clouds(D) and thick darkness(E) surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.(F)3 Fire(G) goes before(H) him and consumes(I) his foes on every side.4 His lightning(J) lights up the...
Read More

Psalm 97 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 971 The Lord rules. Let the earth be glad. Let countries that are far away be full of joy. 2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him. His rule is built on what is right and fair.3 The Lord sends fire ahead of him. It burns up his enemies all around him.4 His lightning lights up the world. The e...
Read More

Psalm 97 - New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 97[a]97 The Lord reigns.Let the earth be happy.Let the many coastlands rejoice.2 Dark clouds surround him;equity and justice are the foundation of his throne.[b]3 Fire goes before him;on every side[c] it burns up his enemies.4 His lightning bolts light up the world;the earth sees and trembles....
Read More