It Is Good to Praise God
Study note
It is good to give thanks and make music to the Most High, declaring his love in the morning and faithfulness at night. God's works and deep thoughts bring joy.
1 It is a beautiful thing to thank the Lord and to make music for your name, Most High, It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
2 to talk about your loyal love when the sun comes up and your faithfulness when the stars come out, To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
3 with a ten-stringed instrument and the gentle sound of a harp. Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
4 Lord, you have made my heart burst with happiness because of what you have done. I shout with joy when I see what your hands have made. For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.
5 Lord, the things you do are so incredible! Your thoughts go deeper than anyone could measure! O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.
The Wicked Will Be Destroyed
Study note
A senseless person does not understand that though the wicked sprout like grass, they will be destroyed forever. But the Lord is exalted forever.
6 A person who does not think things through will never get this. Someone who refuses to learn will never understand it: A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.
7 Evil people may pop up everywhere like weeds. Everyone who does wrong may seem to do well for a while. But they are headed for ruin that lasts forever. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:
8 But you, Lord, reign on high forever and ever. But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore.
9 Look at your enemies, Lord -- they are sure to go down. Every person who does evil will be torn apart and scattered. For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
The Righteous Flourish
Study note
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in God's house, they will still bear fruit in old age, declaring that the Lord is upright.
10 But you have given me the strength of a wild ox. You have poured fresh oil over my head. But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.
11 My own eyes have watched my enemies fall. My own ears have heard the downfall of those who attacked me. Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.
12 People who do what is right will grow tall and strong like a palm tree. They will stretch upward like a towering cedar in Lebanon. The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted right in the Lord's own house, and they bloom beautifully in the courtyards of our God. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 Even when they are old, they will keep producing good fruit. They will stay healthy, green, and full of life, They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
15 showing everyone, "The Lord plays fair. He is my rock, and there is not a shred of wrong in him." To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.