Psalm 96–99

^1–296Sing God a brand-new song!

Earth and everyone in it, sing!

Sing to God—worship God!

^2–3Shout the news of his victory from sea to sea,

Take the news of his glory to the lost,

News of his wonders to one and all!

^4–5For God is great, and worth a thousand Hallelujahs.

His terrible beauty makes the gods look cheap;

Pagan gods are mere tatters and rags.

^5–6God made the heavens—

Royal splendor radiates from him,

A powerful beauty sets him apart.

⁷Bravo, God, Bravo!

Everyone join in the great shout: Encore!

In awe before the beauty, in awe before the might.

^8–9Bring gifts and celebrate,

Bow before the beauty of God,

Then to your knees—everyone worship!

¹⁰Get out the message—God Rules!

He put the world on a firm foundation;

He treats everyone fair and square.

¹¹Let’s hear it from Sky,

With Earth joining in,

And a huge round of applause from Sea.

¹²Let Wilderness turn cartwheels,

Animals, come dance,

Put every tree of the forest in the choir—

¹³An extravaganza before God as he comes,

As he comes to set everything right on earth,

Set everything right, treat everyone fair.

¹97God rules: there’s something to shout over!

On the double, mainlands and islands—celebrate!

²Bright clouds and storm clouds circle ’round him;

Right and justice anchor his rule.

³Fire blazes out before him,

Flaming high up the craggy mountains.

⁴His lightnings light up the world;

Earth, wide-eyed, trembles in fear.

⁵The mountains take one look at God

And melt, melt like wax before earth’s Lord.

⁶The heavens announce that he’ll set everything right,

And everyone will see it happen—glorious!

^7–8All who serve handcrafted gods will be sorry—

And they were so proud of their ragamuffin gods!

On your knees, all you gods—worship him!

And Zion, you listen and take heart!

Daughters of Zion, sing your hearts out:

God has done it all, has set everything right.

⁹You, God, are High God of the cosmos,

Far, far higher than any of the gods.

¹⁰God loves all who hate evil,

And those who love him he keeps safe,

Snatches them from the grip of the wicked.

¹¹Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God’s people,

Joy-seeds are planted in good heart-soil.

¹²So, God’s people, shout praise to God,

Give thanks to our Holy God!

¹98Sing to God a brand-new song.

He’s made a world of wonders!

He rolled up his sleeves,

He set things right.

²God made history with salvation,

He showed the world what he could do.

³He remembered to love us, a bonus

To his dear family, Israel—indefatigable love.

The whole earth comes to attention.

Look—God’s work of salvation!

⁴Shout your praises to God, everybody!

Let loose and sing! Strike up the band!

⁵Round up an orchestra to play for God,

Add on a hundred-voice choir.

⁶Feature trumpets and big trombones,

Fill the air with praises to King God.

⁷Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause,

With everything living on earth joining in.

⁸Let ocean breakers call out, “Encore!”

And mountains harmonize the finale—

⁹A tribute to God when he comes,

When he comes to set the earth right.

He’ll straighten out the whole world,

He’ll put the world right, and everyone in it.

^1–399God rules. On your toes, everybody!

He rules from his angel throne—take notice!

God looms majestic in Zion,

He towers in splendor over all the big names.

Great and terrible your beauty: let everyone praise you!

Holy. Yes, holy.

^4–5Strong King, lover of justice,

You laid things out fair and square;

You set down the foundations in Jacob,

Foundation stones of just and right ways.

Honor God, our God; worship his rule!

Holy. Yes, holy.

^6–9Moses and Aaron were his priests,

Samuel among those who prayed to him.

They prayed to God and he answered them;

He spoke from the pillar of cloud.

And they did what he said; they kept the law he gave them.

And then God, our God, answered them

(But you were never soft on their sins).

Lift high God, our God; worship at his holy mountain.

Holy. Yes, holy is God our God.