Praise God with Music
Study note
The righteous are called to praise God with harps and songs because his word is right and he loves justice and righteousness.
1 If you are someone who lives right, celebrate the Lord! Praising him is the perfect thing for honest people to do. Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
2 Thank the Lord with a harp. Play beautiful music on a ten-stringed instrument for him. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing him a new song. Play with skill and shout out loud with joy. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
4 Every word the Lord speaks is straight and true, and everything he does can be counted on. For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
5 He is passionate about justice and doing what is right. His faithful love fills up the entire earth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
God Created by His Word
Study note
By God's word the heavens were made. He gathered the oceans. All the earth should stand in awe of him because he spoke and it came to be.
6 All it took was the Lord's word to create the heavens. The breath of his mouth brought every star to life. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7 He scoops up the ocean waters and gathers them into one place. He stores the deep seas away like treasure in a storehouse. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
8 Let everybody on earth stand in wonder before the Lord. Let every person in the world be amazed by him. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 All he did was speak, and everything came into existence. He gave the order, and it stood firm. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
God Rules the Nations
Study note
God overturns the plans of nations, but his own plans stand forever. No king is saved by the size of his army. A horse cannot save anyone by its great strength.
10 The Lord unravels the plans that nations put together. He blocks every scheme that people come up with. The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
11 But what the Lord has planned stands firm forever. The desires of his heart remain unchanged through every generation. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 How happy is the nation that has the Lord as its God — the people he handpicked to be his own special treasure. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
13 The Lord gazes down from heaven. He watches every person on earth. The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14 From his throne, he observes everybody who lives on this planet. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15 He is the one who shaped every human heart, and he pays close attention to everything they do. He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
16 No king has ever been saved because his army was huge. No warrior has ever escaped danger because he was strong. There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 Depending on a horse to win the battle is a false hope. All its power cannot guarantee rescue. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
Hope in God's Love
Study note
God watches over those who fear him and hope in his faithful love. He is our help and shield, and we trust in his holy name.
18 But the Lord's eyes are locked on those who honor him — people who lean on his faithful love, Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 ready to pull them back from the edge of death and to keep them fed even when famine strikes. To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Everything in us waits eagerly for the Lord. He is our help and our shield. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
21 Our hearts are overflowing with joy because of him, because we have put our trust in his holy name. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Lord, let your faithful love rest on us — we have pinned all our hopes on you. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.