Psalms 66

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

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth.

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

Sing forth the glory of his name. Make his praise glorious.

3 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.”

Say to God, How awesome are thy works! Through the greatness of thy power thine enemies shall submit themselves to thee.

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

All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing to thee. They shall sing to thy name. (Selah)

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

Come, and see the works of God, awesome in actions toward the sons of men.

6 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].

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

7 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.

He rules by his might forever. His eyes observe the nations. Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. (Selah)

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

O bless our God, ye peoples, and make the voice of his praise to be heard,

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

who holds our soul in life, and does not allow our feet to be moved.

10 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].

For thou, O God, have proved us. Thou have tried us as silver is tried.

11 [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].

Thou brought us into the net. Thou laid a great burden upon our loins.

12 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.

Thou caused men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water. But thou brought us out into a wealthy place.

13 [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.

I will come into thy house with burnt offerings. I will pay thee my vows,

14 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.

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

15 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]).

I will offer to thee burnt offerings of fatlings, with the incense of rams. I will offer bullocks with goats. (Selah)

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

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

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

I cried to him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.

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

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.

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

But truly God has heard. He has attended to the voice of my prayer.

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

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