Psalms 66

1 For the leader. A song. A psalm. Shout to God, all the earth,

For the choirmaster. A song. A Psalm. Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth!

2 sing praise to his glorious name, sing his glorious praise.

Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious.

3 Say to God, ‘How dread are your works, so great is your might that your enemies cringe to you.

Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cower before You.

4 All the earth does homage to you, singing praises to you, singing praise to your name.’ (Selah)

All the earth bows down to You; they sing praise to You; they sing praise to Your name.”

5 Come and see what God has done, awe-inspiring is he in his works among people.

Come and see the works of God; how awesome are His deeds toward mankind.

6 He turns the sea into dry land, and people cross the river on foot. Let us therefore rejoice in him,

He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the waters on foot; there we rejoiced in Him.

7 the mighty Ruler eternal, whose eyes keep watch on the nations, that no rebel lift up his head. (Selah)

He rules forever by His power; His eyes watch the nations. Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves.

8 O bless our God, you peoples; sound aloud his praise,

Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of His praise be heard.

9 who keeps us in life, and keeps our feet from slipping.

He preserves our lives and keeps our feet from slipping.

10 For you, God, have tested us, have tried us, as silver is tried.

For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.

11 You did bring us into prison, and put chains upon us,

You led us into the net; You laid burdens on our backs.

12 you did let people ride over our head. We went through fire and through water, but you led us out to a spacious place.

You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us into abundance.

13 I will enter your house with burnt-offerings, I will pay to you my vows,

I will enter Your house with burnt offerings; I will fulfill my vows to You—

14 which my open lips have uttered, arid my mouth has declared in my straits.

the vows that my lips promised and my mouth spoke in my distress.

15 I will offer you offerings of fatlings, with the odour of burning rams, I will sacrifice bullocks with goats. (Selah)

I will offer You fatlings as burnt offerings, with the fragrant smoke of rams; I will offer bulls and goats.

16 Come and hear my story all who fear God – of what he has done for me.

Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for me.

17 For my mouth had no sooner invoked him than his praise was under my tongue.

I cried out to Him with my mouth and praised Him with my tongue.

18 Had I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would never have listened.

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

19 But assuredly God has listened, and attended to my loud prayer.

But God has surely heard; He has attended to the sound of my prayer.

20 Blessed be God, who turned not aside my prayer, nor withdrew his kindness from me.

Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld from me His loving devotion!