Psalms 66

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

For the end, a Song of Psalm of resurrection. Shout unto 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!

O sing praises to his name; give glory to his praise.

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 unto God, How awful are thy works! through the greatness of thy power thine enemies shall lie to thee.

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

Let all the earth worship thee, and sing to thee; let them sing to thy name. (Pause)

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

Come and behold the works of God; [he is] terrible in [his] counsels beyond the children 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].

Who turns the sea into dry land; they shall go through the river on foot; there shall we rejoice 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.

who by his power is Lord over the age, his eyes look upon the nations; let not them that provoke [him] be exalted in themselves. (Pause)

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, ye Gentiles, 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 quickens my soul in life, and does not suffer my 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, has proved us; thou hast tried us with fire 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 broughtest us into the snare; thou laidest afflictions on our back.

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 didst mount men upon our heads; we went through the fire and water; but thou broughtest us out into [a place of] refreshment.

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 go into thine house with whole-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 framed, and my mouth uttered in my affliction.

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 whole-burnt-sacrifices full of marrow, with incense and rams; I will sacrifice to thee oxen with goats. (Pause)

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

Come, hear, and I will tell, all ye that fear God, how great things 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 exalted 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 have regarded iniquity in my heart, let not the Lord hearken [to me].

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

Therefore God has hearkened to me; 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 mercy from me.