Psa 97 | HCSB | STEP | The Lord reigns ! Let the earth rejoice ; let the many coasts and islands be glad .

‏ Psalms 97

The Majestic King

1 The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice;
let the many coasts and islands be glad. ^a

2 Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. ^b
3 Fire goes before Him
and burns up His foes on every side. ^c
4 His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles. ^d
5 The mountains melt like wax
at the presence of the Lord –
at the presence of the Lord of all the earth. ^e

6 The heavens proclaim His righteousness; ^f
all the peoples see His glory. ^g

7 All who serve carved images,
those who boast in idols, will be put to shame. ^h
All the gods ^{▼▼LXX, Syr read All His angels; Heb 1:6} must worship Him. ^j

8 ^{▼▼Zion: Originally a term for the fortified section of Jerusalem and then, by extension, used for the temple and the city of Jerusalem both in the present time and in the future}Zion hears and is glad,
and the towns ^{▼▼Lit daughters} of Judah rejoice
because of Your judgments, Lord. ^m
9 For You, Lord,
are the ^{▼▼Most High: The Hebrew word is Elyon. It is often used with other names of God, such as El (God) or Yahweh (Lord); it is used to refer to God as the supreme being.}Most High over all the earth;
You are exalted above all the gods. ^o

10 You who love the Lord, hate evil! ^p
He protects the lives of His godly ones; ^q
He rescues them from the power of the wicked. ^r
11 Light dawns ^{▼▼One Hb ms, LXX, some ancient versions read rises to shine; Ps 112:4
,} ^{▼▼Lit Light is sown} for the righteous,
gladness for the upright in heart. ^u
12 Be glad in ^{▼▼Yahweh/Yah: Or The Lord; the personal name of God in Hebrew; "Yah" is the shortened form of the name.}Yahweh, you righteous ones,
and praise His holy name. ^{▼▼Or memory, of His holiness; lit praise the mention
,} ^x