Psalms 66

1 “To the chief musician, a song or psalm.” Shout joyfully unto God, all ye lands:

[Tell] everyone on the earth that they should sing joyfully to praise God!

2 Sing forth the glory of his name; make glorious his praise.

They should sing songs that say that God [MTY] is very great, and they should tell everyone that he is very glorious!

3 Say unto God, How fear-inspiring is every one of thy works! through the greatness of thy strength will thy enemies yield feigned obedience unto thee.

They should say to God, “The things that you do are awesome! You are very powerful, with the result that your enemies (cringe/bow down) in front of you.”

4 All the lands shall bow themselves down unto thee, and shall sing praises unto thee; they shall sing praises to thy name. (Selah)

Everyone on the earth [should] worship God and sing to praise him and honor him [MTY].

5 Come and see the deeds of God: fear-inspiring is his doing toward the children of men.

Come and think about what God has done! Think about the awesome things that he has done.

6 He changed the sea into dry land: through the river they went on foot: there did we rejoice in him.

He caused the [Red] Sea to become dry land, [with the result that our] ancestors were able to walk right through it. There we rejoiced because of what he [had done].

7 He ruleth by his might for ever; his eyes look upon the nations: the rebellious—these shall not be exalted. (Selah)

By his great power he rules forever, and he keeps watching all the nations [to see what things they do], [so] those nations that want to rebel [against him] should not be proud.

8 Bless, O ye people, our God, and cause the voice of his praise to be heard:

You people [of all nations], praise our God! Praise him loudly in order that people will hear you as you praise him.

9 Who hath appointed our soul to life, and hath not suffered our foot to slip.

He has kept us alive, and he has not allowed us to (stumble/be defeated).

10 For thou hast proved us, O God: thou hast refined us, as silver is refined.

God, you have tested us; you have allowed us to experience great difficulties [to make our lives become pure] as [people] put precious metals in a hot fire [to burn out what is impure] [MET].

11 Thou hast brought us into the net; thou hast placed fetters upon our loins.

[It is as if] you allowed us to fall into traps [MET], and you [forced us to endure difficult things which were like] putting heavy loads on our backs [MET].

12 Thou hast caused men to ride on our head: we entered into fire and into water; but thou broughtest us out to [the enjoyment] of overflowing plenty. a

You allowed [our] enemies to trample on us; we [experienced difficulties/troubles that were like] [MET] walking through fires and floods, but now you have brought us into a place where we have plenty.

13 I will enter thy house with burnt-offerings: I will pay unto thee my vows,

[Yahweh], I will bring to your temple offerings that are to be completely burned [on the altar]; I will offer to you what I promised.

14 Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in distress.

When I was experiencing [much] trouble, I said that I would bring offerings to you [if you rescued me]; [and you did rescue me, so] I will bring to you what I promised.

15 Burnt-offerings of fatlings will I offer up unto thee, with the incense of rams; I will prepare steers with he-goats. (Selah)

I will bring sheep to be burned on the altar, and I will [also] sacrifice bulls and goats, and when they are burning, [you will be pleased when] the smoke [rises up] ([to you/to the sky]).

16 Come, hear, and I will relate, all ye that fear God, what he hath done for my soul.

All you [people] who revere God, come and listen, and I will tell you what he has done for me.

17 Unto him I cried with my mouth, and a song of extolling was on my tongue.

I called out to him to help me, and I praised him while I was speaking to him [MTY].

18 If I had looked on wickedness with my heart, the Lord would not have heard;

If I had ignored the sins that I had committed, the Lord would not have paid any attention to me.

19 But verily God hath heard; he hath listened to the voice of my prayer.

But because [I confessed my sins], God has listened to me and he paid attention to my prayers.

20 Blessed be God, who hath not removed my prayer [from him], nor his kindness from me.

I praise God because he has not ignored my prayers or stopped faithfully loving me.