Verse

Psalm chapter 33

English Standard Version

1 Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. 2Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! 3Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. 4For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. 5He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. 6By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. 7He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. 8Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! 9For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. 10The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! 13The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; 14from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, 15he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. 16 The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. 18Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, 19that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. 20Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. 21For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. 22Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

What does Psalm chapter 33 mean?

The psalm opens with a call on the collected worshippers of Israel. The psalmist, likely David, appeals for joyful praise of God. The opening verses refer to "a new song," which carries more than one meaning. In a literal sense, "new songs" are expressions of each generation's personal experience of God's goodness. Creating original songs to honor God is a way of praising and worshipping Him. The "new song" also implies a refreshed, ever-present sense of the Lord. David includes references to musical instruments in this call for praise (Psalm 33:1–3).

For most of the psalm, the psalmist extols God's justice, creative power, omnipotent sovereignty, and omniscient love for His people. God's power is demonstrated in His creative speech: by simply expressing His desire, He can form something from nothing. No earthly power can thwart God's will. As much as any country or culture tries to overthrow God, He cannot be defeated. Those who rely on worldly power are doomed to failure, while reliance on God is the path to eternal salvation (Psalm 33:4–19).

The end of this song is a collective shout of praise. To "wait" on the Lord implies a patient, attentive interest in His will. That requires trust, which is the essence of biblical faith. The people led by the psalmist sing their intent to rely on God and to eagerly expect His powerful work in their lives (Psalm 33:20–22).
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Book Summary
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
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Chapter Context
The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, attributes this psalm to David. It is a psalm that encourages worshipers to praise the Lord. It may have been written after Israel experienced a victory over an enemy. Because the verbs in this psalm are plural, it features the worship leader's call to worship and the worshipers' response.
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