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.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The sky declares his justice,
and all the nations see his splendor.
7 All who worship idols are ashamed,
those who boast about worthless idols.
All the gods bow down before him.[d]
8 Zion hears and rejoices,
the towns[e] of Judah are happy,
because of your judgments, O Lord.
9 For you, O Lord, are the Most High[f] over the whole earth;
you are elevated high above all gods.
10 You who love the Lord, hate evil!
He protects[g] the lives of his faithful followers;
he delivers them from the power[h] of the wicked.
11 The godly bask in the light;
the morally upright experience joy.[i]
12 You godly ones, rejoice in the Lord.
Give thanks to his holy name.[j]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 97:1 sn Psalm 97. The psalmist depicts the Lord as the sovereign, just king of the world who comes in power to vindicate his people.
  2. Psalm 97:2 sn The Lord’s throne symbolizes his kingship.
  3. Psalm 97:3 tn Heb “all around.”
  4. Psalm 97:7 tn The translation assumes that the prefixed verbal form in the first line is an imperfect (“are ashamed”) and that the ambiguous form in the third line is a perfect (“bow down”) because the psalmist appears to be describing the effect of the Lord’s mighty theophany on those who witness it (see vv. 5, 8). Another option is to take the prefixed form in the first line as a jussive (“let all who worship idols be ashamed”) and the ambiguous form in the third line as an imperative (“All you gods, bow down before him!”; cf. NIV).
  5. Psalm 97:8 tn Heb “daughters.” The term “daughters” refers to the cities of Judah surrounding Zion (see Ps 48:11 and H. Haag, TDOT 2:336).
  6. Psalm 97:9 sn The divine title “Most High” (עֶלְיוֹן ʿelyon) pictures God as the exalted ruler of the universe who vindicates the innocent and judges the wicked. See especially Pss 7:17; 9:2; 18:13; 21:7; 47:2.
  7. Psalm 97:10 tn The participle may be verbal, though it might also be understood as substantival and appositional to “the Lord.” In this case one could translate, “Hate evil, you who love the Lord, the one who protects the lives…and delivers them.”
  8. Psalm 97:10 tn Heb “hand.”
  9. Psalm 97:11 tn Heb “Light is planted for the godly, and for the upright of heart joy.” The translation assumes an emendation of זָרַע (zaraʿ, “planted”) to זָרַח (zarakh, “shines”) which collocates more naturally with “light.” “Light” here symbolizes the joy (note the following line) that accompanies deliverance and the outpouring of divine favor.
  10. Psalm 97:12 tn Heb “to his holy remembrance.” The Hebrew noun זָכַר (zakhar, “remembrance”) here refers to the name of the Lord as invoked in liturgy and praise. Cf. Pss 6:5; 30:4. The Lord’s “name” is “holy” in the sense that it is a reminder of his uniqueness and greatness.

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