Psalms 66

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

For the Chief Musician. A song. A Psalm. Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!

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

Sing to the glory of his name! Offer glory and praise!

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.

Tell God, “How awesome are your deeds! Through the greatness of your power, your enemies submit themselves to 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)

All the earth will worship you, and will sing to you; they will sing to your name.” (Selah)

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

Come, and see God’s deeds— awesome work on behalf of the children of men.

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

He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There, we rejoiced in him.

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

He rules by his might forever. His eyes watch the nations. Don’t let the rebellious rise up against him. (Selah)

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

Praise our God, you peoples! Make the sound of his praise heard,

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

who preserves our life among the living, and doesn’t allow our feet to be moved.

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

For you, God, have tested us. You have refined us, as silver is refined.

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

You brought us into prison. You laid a burden on our backs.

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 men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water, but you brought us to the place of abundance.

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

I will come into your temple with burnt offerings. I will pay my vows to you,

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

which my lips promised, and my mouth spoke, when I was in distress.

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 offer to you burnt offerings of fat animals, with the offering of rams, I will offer bulls with goats. (Selah)

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

Come and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul.

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

I cried to him with my mouth. He was extolled with my tongue.

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

If I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord wouldn’t have listened.

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

But most certainly, God has listened. He has heard the voice of my prayer.

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

Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor his loving kindness from me.