Psalm 97

Psalm 97

¹The Lord rules as king. 

Let the earth rejoice. 

Let all the islands be joyful. 

²Clouds and darkness surround him. 

Righteousness and justice are the foundations of his throne. 

³Fire spreads ahead of him. 

It burns his enemies who surround him. 

⁴His flashes of lightning light up the world. 

The earth sees them and trembles. 

⁵The mountains melt like wax in the presence of the Lord, 

in the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 

⁶The heavens tell about his righteousness, 

and all the people of the world see his glory. 

⁷Everyone who worships idols 

and brags about false gods will be put to shame. 

All the gods will bow to him. 

⁸Zion hears about this and rejoices. 

The people of Judah are delighted with your judgments, O Lord. 

⁹You, O Lord, the Most High, are above the whole earth. 

You are highest. You are above all the gods. 

¹⁰Let those who love the Lord hate evil. 

The one who guards the lives of his godly ones 

will rescue them from the power of wicked people. 

¹¹Light dawns for righteous people^a

and joy for those whose motives are decent. 

¹²Find joy in the Lord, you righteous people. 

Give thanks to him as you remember how holy he is.