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Psalm chapter 97

English Standard Version

1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! 2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3 Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. 4His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. 7All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods! 8Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O Lord. 9For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. 10O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 11 Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
New International Version

1The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. 2Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. 4His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.
6The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.
7All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols— worship him, all you gods! 8Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, Lord. 9For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. 10Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 11Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. 12Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.
New American Standard Bible

1The Lord reigns, may the earth rejoice; May the many islands be joyful. 2Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. 3Fire goes before Him And burns up His enemies all around. 4His lightning lit up the world; The earth saw it and trembled. 5The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6The heavens declare His righteousness, And all the peoples have seen His glory. 7May all those be ashamed who serve carved images, Who boast in idols; Worship Him, all you gods. 8Zion heard this and was joyful, And the daughters of Judah have rejoiced Because of Your judgments, Lord. 9For You are the Lord Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods. 10Hate evil, you who love the Lord, Who watches over the souls of His godly ones; He saves them from the hand of the wicked. 11Light is sown like seed for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart. 12Be joyful in the Lord, you righteous ones, And praise the mention of His holy name.
Christian Standard Bible

1The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coasts and islands be glad. 2Clouds and total darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3Fire goes before him and burns up his foes on every side. 4His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
5The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord — at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6The heavens proclaim his righteousness; all the peoples see his glory.
7All who serve carved images, those who boast in idols, will be put to shame. All the gods must worship him. 8Zion hears and is glad, Judah’s villages rejoice because of your judgments, Lord.
9For you, Lord, are the Most High over the whole earth; you are exalted above all the gods. 10You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his faithful ones; he rescues them from the power of the wicked. 11Light dawns for the righteous, gladness for the upright in heart. 12Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones, and give thanks to his holy name.
New Living Translation

1The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice! Let the farthest coastlands be glad. 2Dark clouds surround him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3Fire spreads ahead of him and burns up all his foes. 4His lightning flashes out across the world. The earth sees and trembles. 5The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. 6The heavens proclaim his righteousness; every nation sees his glory. 7Those who worship idols are disgraced — all who brag about their worthless gods — for every god must bow to him. 8Jerusalem has heard and rejoiced, and all the towns of Judah are glad because of your justice, O Lord! 9For you, O Lord, are supreme over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
10You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked. 11Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right. 12May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord and praise his holy name!
King James Version

1The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
2Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
3A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
4His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
5The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
7Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
8Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.
9For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
10Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
New King James Version

1The Lord reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad! 2 Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. 3 A fire goes before Him, And burns up His enemies round about. 4 His lightnings light the world; The earth sees and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The heavens declare His righteousness, And all the peoples see His glory. 7 Let all be put to shame who serve carved images, Who boast of idols. Worship Him, all you gods. 8Zion hears and is glad, And the daughters of Judah rejoice Because of Your judgments, O Lord. 9For You, Lord, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods. 10You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. 11 Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

What does Psalm chapter 97 mean?

This portion of Scripture includes several "enthronement" psalms. These are songs reveling in the Lord's rule over the world. Most are general (Psalm 15; 24; 27; 93; 95; 96; 98; 99). This psalm is more direct; the psalmist describes the scene as if seeing it in person, or in a vision.

The psalmist uses the same dramatic images seen in other Old Testament passages. God and His judgment are associated with obscuring darkness (Exodus 20:21), clouds (Exodus 40:34), fire (Leviticus 9:24), lightning (Exodus 20:18), and earthquakes (Ezekiel 38:19). God's power is unstoppable and obvious as He reigns over His creation (Psalm 97:1–5).

When the Lord rules over the entire world, everyone will understand His supremacy (Isaiah 45:22–23; Philippians 2:1–11). Those who rejected Him in favor of false gods will be ashamed. Though these other "gods" are worthless, the psalmist taunts them by calling on the idols themselves to acknowledge the One True God (Psalm 97:6–7).

When God rules, His people will celebrate. Zion is a reference to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:7), and Judah is sometimes used as a reference to that general area (Psalm 78:68). To hate evil is to love goodness, which is defined by God's holy nature (Proverbs 8:13). Seeing the Lord worshipped and praised worldwide will give His people joy and inspire them to even more praise (Psalm 97:8–12).
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