< Psalms 33 >
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: praise is comely for the upright.
Let those who do good shout for joy—those who live right should praise him!
2 Give thanks unto the LORD with harp: sing praises unto him with the psaltery of ten strings.
Praise the Lord with the lyre, play music to him on the ten-stringed harp.
3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
Sing a new song to him; play your instruments well and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his work is [done] in faithfulness.
For the word of the Lord is true, and he is trustworthy in everything he does.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.
He loves all that is good and right; the earth is full of the Lord's trustworthy love.
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
The Lord spoke the word and the heavens were made; his mouth breathed all the stars into existence.
7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the deeps in storehouses.
He gathers the waters of the sea together, he keeps the ocean depths in store.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
Let all the earth show reverence to the Lord; let all the world's inhabitants be in awe of him.
9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
For he spoke and the world came into existence; he gave the command and it was created.
10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought: he maketh the thoughts of the peoples to be of none effect.
The Lord foils the decisions of the nations, he frustrates the plans of the peoples,
11 The counsel of the LORD standeth fast for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
But the Lord's plan stands forever—what he decides lasts for all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he has chosen as specially belonging to him.
13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men;
The Lord looks from heaven and sees the whole of humanity,
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh forth upon all the inhabitants of the earth;
from his throne he watches all those who live on earth.
15 He that fashioneth the hearts of them all, that considereth all their works.
He created their minds, so he knows everything they do.
16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
Even the greatest army cannot save a king; the greatest strength cannot save a warrior.
17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great power.
Don't deceive yourself: a warhorse can't give you victory—even its incredible strength won't save you.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
The Lord watches over those who reverently follow him, those who place their hope in his trustworthy love
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
to save them from death and to keep them alive when famine strikes.
20 Our soul hath waited for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
We place our confidence in the Lord; he is our help and our defender.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
We are so happy about him, for we trust in his holy character.
22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we have hoped in thee.
Lord, let your trustworthy love rest upon us as we hope in you.