Psalms 66

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

For the leader. A song. A psalm. Shout 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 praise to his glorious name, sing his glorious 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 to God, ‘How dread are your works, so great is your might that your enemies cringe to you.

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

All the earth does homage to you, singing praises to you, singing praise to your name.’ (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, awe-inspiring is he in his works among people.

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 turns the sea into dry land, and people cross the river on foot. Let us therefore 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.

the mighty Ruler eternal, whose eyes keep watch on the nations, that no rebel lift up his head. (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, you peoples; sound aloud his praise,

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

who keeps us in life, 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, God, have tested us, 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].

You did bring us into prison, and put chains upon us,

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 did let people ride over our head. We went through fire and through water, but you led us out to a spacious 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 enter your house with burnt-offerings, I will pay to you 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 open lips have uttered, arid my mouth has declared in my straits.

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 offerings of fatlings, with the odour of burning rams, I will sacrifice 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 my story all who fear God – of 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].

For my mouth had no sooner invoked him than his praise was under my tongue.

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

Had I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would never have listened.

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

But assuredly God has listened, and attended to my loud prayer.

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

Blessed be God, who turned not aside my prayer, nor withdrew his kindness from me.