Psalms 66

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

For the music director. A song. A psalm. Everyone on earth, shout for joy to God!

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

Sing about his marvelous reputation; praise him for his goodness!

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.”

Tell God, “What you do is awesome! Your enemies are forced to bow before you because of your power.

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

Everyone on earth worships you, singing your praises—singing praises because of who you are.” (Selah)

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

Come and see what God has done! What he does for people is truly awesome!

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 Red Sea into dry land, and his people walked across through the waters. We celebrated there because of what he did.

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 through his power. He keeps an eye on the nations, watching to make sure no rebels rise up in opposition. (Selah)

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

Let all people everywhere bless our God, and loudly sing praises to him.

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

He has kept us alive, and he has not let us fall.

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].

God, you have tested us, refining 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 caught us in your net; you placed heavy 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 people ride roughshod over us; we suffered through fire and flooding, but you brought us to a safe 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 to your Temple with burnt offerings; I will fulfill my promises 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 promises I made when I was in trouble.

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 sacrifice burnt offerings to you of fattened livestock—the smoke of the sacrifice of rams, offerings of bulls and 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 listen, everyone who honors God, and I will tell you all 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 called out to him, and praised him with my voice.

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

If my thinking had been sinful, the Lord would not have listened to me.

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

But God did hear me! He listened to what I had to say in my prayer!

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

Praise God, who did not disregard my prayer or take his trustworthy love from me.