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This psalm is a song for the music leader.

Praise God![a]

66 Everyone on earth, shout aloud to praise God,
    because you are very happy.
Sing to praise his great name!
    Praise him in the way that he deserves.
Say to God, ‘You do great things!
Your great power makes your enemies afraid.
    They come to you and they bend down to the ground.
The whole world bends down to worship you.
    Everyone sings to praise your name.’
Selah.
Come and see the great things that God has done.
    He has done wonderful miracles for people!
He caused the Red Sea to become dry land.
    Then his people walked across the Jordan River![b]
So we praise him for what he did there!
He has the power to rule for ever.
    He watches everything that the nations do.
Wicked people should not be proud and turn against him.
Selah.
You people from every nation,
    agree that our God is great!
Praise him with loud voices,
    so that everyone can hear!
He keeps our lives safe.
    He does not let us fall to the ground.
10 You have tested us, God.
You wanted to make us pure,
    as they make silver pure in a hot fire.
11 You caused a trap to catch us,
    so that we had much pain and trouble.
12 You gave people power to hurt us.
We went through dangerous fire and water.
But then you brought us into a safe, open place.[c]

13 I will bring burnt offerings to your Temple.
    I will bring to you the gifts that I promised.
14 When I was in trouble, I made those promises.
    I spoke them aloud.
15 I will offer to you gifts of fat animals,
    to burn them as sacrifices.
I will also burn sheep as offerings,
    and their smell will please you.
I will also offer to you bulls and goats.
Selah.
16 Come and listen,
    all you people who serve God.
I will tell you about the things that God has done for me.
17 I called to him for help,
    then I praised him aloud!
18 If I had kept wicked things in my mind,
    the Lord would not have listened to me.
19 But God did hear me.
When I called to him,
    he listened to my prayer.
20 So I praise God, as he deserves.[d]
He has not refused to listen to me.
    He has continued to love me with his faithful love.

Footnotes

  1. 66:1 This psalm tells about the great things that God has done to help his people. As a result, his people should praise him as he deserves.
  2. 66:6 God led his people out of Egypt where they were slaves. He took them safely through the Red Sea on dry land. Then they walked across the Jordan River into Canaan.
  3. 66:12 Many times God tested his people to see if they really trusted him. Sometimes God let their enemies bring trouble and hurt them. God wanted to make them pure. Silver becomes pure when it is made very hot over a fire. Then the dirt becomes separate from the pure silver.
  4. 66:20 The writer wants everyone to praise God when they see all the good things that God has done.

Psalm 66

For the director of music. A song. A psalm.

Shout for joy to God, all the earth!(A)
    Sing the glory of his name;(B)
    make his praise glorious.(C)
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!(D)
    So great is your power
    that your enemies cringe(E) before you.
All the earth bows down(F) to you;
    they sing praise(G) to you,
    they sing the praises of your name.”[a]

Come and see what God has done,
    his awesome deeds(H) for mankind!
He turned the sea into dry land,(I)
    they passed through(J) the waters on foot—
    come, let us rejoice(K) in him.
He rules forever(L) by his power,
    his eyes watch(M) the nations—
    let not the rebellious(N) rise up against him.

Praise(O) our God, all peoples,
    let the sound of his praise be heard;
he has preserved our lives(P)
    and kept our feet from slipping.(Q)
10 For you, God, tested(R) us;
    you refined us like silver.(S)
11 You brought us into prison(T)
    and laid burdens(U) on our backs.
12 You let people ride over our heads;(V)
    we went through fire and water,
    but you brought us to a place of abundance.(W)

13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings(X)
    and fulfill my vows(Y) to you—
14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
    when I was in trouble.
15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you
    and an offering of rams;
    I will offer bulls and goats.(Z)

16 Come and hear,(AA) all you who fear God;
    let me tell(AB) you what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth;
    his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
    the Lord would not have listened;(AC)
19 but God has surely listened
    and has heard(AD) my prayer.
20 Praise be to God,
    who has not rejected(AE) my prayer
    or withheld his love from me!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 66:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 15.