Psalms 66

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

To the chief music-maker. A Song. A Psalm. Send up a glad cry to God, all the earth:

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

Make a song in honour of his name: give praise and glory to him.

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

Say to God, How greatly to be feared are your works! because of your great power your haters are forced to put themselves under your feet.

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

Let all the earth give you worship, and make songs to you; let them make songs to your name. (Selah)

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

Come and see the works of God: he is to be feared in all he does to the children of men.

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

The sea was turned into dry land: they went through the river on foot: there did we have joy in him.

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

He is ruling in power for ever; his eyes are watching the nations: may his haters have no strength against him. (Selah)

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

Give blessings to our God, O you peoples, let the voice of his praise be loud;

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

Because he gives us life, and has not let our feet be moved.

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

For you, O God, have put us to the test: testing us by fire like silver.

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

You let us be put in prison; chains were put on our legs.

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 go driving over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but you took us out into a wide place.

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

I will come into your house with burned offerings, I will make payment of my debt to you,

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

Keeping the word which came from my lips, and which my mouth said, when I was in trouble.

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

I will give you burned offerings of fat beasts, and the smoke of sheep; I will make offerings of oxen and goats. (Selah)

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

Come, give ear to me, all you God-fearing men, so that I may make clear to you what he has done for my soul.

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

My voice went up to him, and I was lifted up from the underworld.

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

I said in my heart, The Lord will not give ear to me:

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

But truly God's ear has been open; he has give attention to the voice of my prayer.

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

Praise be to God who has not taken away his good faith and his mercy from me.