Psalms 66

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

For the choirmaster. A song. A Psalm. 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 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 Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cower before You.

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

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

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; how awesome are His deeds toward mankind.

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 passed through the waters 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 forever by His power; His eyes watch the nations. Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves.

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

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

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

He preserves our lives and keeps our feet from slipping.

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

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].

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

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.

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

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

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.

the vows that my lips promised and my mouth spoke in my 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 You fatlings as burnt offerings, with the fragrant smoke of rams; I will offer bulls and goats.

16 All you [people] who revere God, come and listen, and I will tell you 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 I called out to him to help me, and I praised him while I was speaking to him [MTY].

I cried out to Him with my mouth and praised Him 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 had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

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

But God has surely heard; He has attended to the sound 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 rejected my prayer or withheld from me His loving devotion!