Psalms 33

Rejoicing in the LORD's Creative Word and Covenant Care

summons to righteous praise -> character of the LORD's word and works -> creation by word and breath -> nations judged under divine counsel -> humanity seen and hearts formed by God -> earthly power exposed as unable to save -> covenant people waiting for mercy

World English Bible, Public Domain

Psalms 33:1–9

The Lord is to be praised with new and skillful songs because His upright Word created the heavens and governs the earth in justice and love.

1 Rejoice in Yahweh, you righteous! Praise is fitting for the upright.

2 Give thanks to Yahweh with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings.

3 Sing to him a new song. Play skillfully with a shout of joy!

4 For Yahweh’s word is right. All his work is done in faithfulness.

5 He loves righteousness and justice. The earth is full of the loving kindness of Yahweh.

6 By Yahweh’s word, the heavens were made: all their army by the breath of his mouth.

7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap. He lays up the deeps in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear Yahweh. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

9 For he spoke, and it was done. He commanded, and it stood firm.

Psalms 33:10–15

Human plans fail but God's counsel stands forever; He created the human heart and observes everything we do from His throne in heaven.

10 Yahweh brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.

11 The counsel of Yahweh stands fast forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is Yahweh, the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.

13 Yahweh looks from heaven. He sees all the sons of men.

14 From the place of his habitation he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,

15 he who fashions all of their hearts; and he considers all of their works.

Psalms 33:16–22

Kings and warriors are not saved by their own strength or their horses, but by the eye of the Lord which watches over those who hope in His love.

16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an army. A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

17 A horse is a vain thing for safety, neither does he deliver any by his great power.

18 Behold, Yahweh’s eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness,

19 to deliver their soul from death, to keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul has waited for Yahweh. He is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart rejoices in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

22 Let your loving kindness be on us, Yahweh, since we have hoped in you.

Key Terms

רָנַן ranan H7442
צַדִּיקִים tsaddiqim H6662
יְשָׁרִים yesharim H3477
תְהִלָּה tehillah H8416
הוֹדוּ hodu H3034
כִּנּוֹר kinnor H3658
נֵבֶל nevel H5035
שִׁיר חָדָשׁ shir chadash H7892
דְּבַר devar H1697
צְדָקָה tsedaqah H6666

World English Bible (WEB): Public Domain Scripture text · License details