CORPUS-PSALTERIUMVol. IV
Corpus Psalterium Vol. IV cover

Corpus Psalterium · Vol. IV

Psalm XCVI (96)

Cantillated — Declarative Universal Praise

Paul Whitehorn

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Study the Word

Psalm 96 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.

1

Sing to Yahweh a new song! Sing to Yahweh, all the earth.

שִׁ֣ירוּ לַ֭יהוָה שִׁ֣יר חָדָ֑שׁ שִׁ֥ירוּ לַ֝יהוָ֗ה כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

2

Sing to Yahweh! Bless his name! Proclaim his salvation from day to day!

שִׁ֣ירוּ לַ֭יהוָה בָּרֲכ֣וּ שְׁמ֑וֹ בַּשְּׂר֥וּ מִיּֽוֹם־לְ֝י֗וֹם יְשׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃

3

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.

סַפְּר֣וּ בַגּוֹיִ֣ם כְּבוֹד֑וֹ בְּכָל־הָֽ֝עַמִּ֗ים נִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃

4

For Yahweh is great, and greatly to be praised! He is to be feared above all gods.

כִּ֥י גָ֘ד֤וֹל יְהוָ֣ה וּמְהֻלָּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד נוֹרָ֥א ה֝֗וּא עַל־כָּל־אֱלֹהִֽים׃

5

For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahweh made the heavens.

כִּ֤י ׀ כָּל־אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָעַמִּ֣ים אֱלִילִ֑ים וַֽ֝יהוָ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם עָשָֽׂה׃

6

Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

הוֹד־וְהָדָ֥ר לְפָנָ֑יו עֹ֥ז וְ֝תִפְאֶ֗רֶת בְּמִקְדָּשֽׁוֹ׃

7

Ascribe to Yahweh, you families of nations, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.

הָב֣וּ לַ֭יהוָה מִשְׁפְּח֣וֹת עַמִּ֑ים הָב֥וּ לַ֝יהוָ֗ה כָּב֥וֹד וָעֹֽז׃

8

Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come into his courts.

הָב֣וּ לַ֭יהוָה כְּב֣וֹד שְׁמ֑וֹ שְׂאֽוּ־מִ֝נְחָ֗ה וּבֹ֥אוּ לְחַצְרוֹתָֽיו׃

9

Worship Yahweh in holy array. Tremble before him, all the earth.

הִשְׁתַּחֲו֣וּ לַ֭יהוָה בְּהַדְרַת־קֹ֑דֶשׁ חִ֥ילוּ מִ֝פָּנָ֗יו כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

10

Say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns.” The world is also established. It can’t be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.

אִמְר֤וּ בַגּוֹיִ֨ם ׀ יְה֘וָ֤ה מָלָ֗ךְ אַף־תִּכּ֣וֹן תֵּ֭בֵל בַּל־תִּמּ֑וֹט יָדִ֥ין עַ֝מִּ֗ים בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃

11

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness!

יִשְׂמְח֣וּ הַ֭שָּׁמַיִם וְתָגֵ֣ל הָאָ֑רֶץ יִֽרְעַ֥ם הַ֝יָּ֗ם וּמְלֹאֽוֹ׃

12

Let the field and all that is in it exult! Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy

יַעֲלֹ֣ז שָׂ֭דַי וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־בּ֑וֹ אָ֥ז יְ֝רַנְּנ֗וּ כָּל־עֲצֵי־יָֽעַר׃

13

before Yahweh; for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with his truth.

לִפְנֵ֤י יְהוָ֨ה ׀ כִּ֬י בָ֗א כִּ֥י בָא֮ לִשְׁפֹּ֪ט הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ יִשְׁפֹּֽט־תֵּבֵ֥ל בְּצֶ֑דֶק וְ֝עַמִּ֗ים בֶּאֱמוּנָתֽוֹ׃

Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.

Sing to the LORD a new song

Sing to the LORD, all the earth

Sing to the LORD and bless His name

Proclaim His salvation day by day

Tell the nations of His glory

Tell all peoples of His wonders

For great is the LORD

and greatly to be praised

He is feared above all gods

The LORD is great

He reigns above all

He made the heavens

He alone

The LORD is great

He reigns above all

He made the heavens

He alone

All the gods of the nations are idols

But the LORD, He made the heavens

Honor and splendor are before Him

Strength and beauty fill His house

Give to the LORD, all families of nations

Give to the LORD glory and strength

Give Him glory

Give Him strength

Give Him glory to His name

Bring your offering

Come before Him

Enter now into His courts

Worship the LORD in holy splendor

Tremble before Him, all the earth

Say among the nations

The LORD reigns

The world stands firm

it will not be moved

He will judge the peoples

with justice

Let the heavens rejoice

Let the earth be glad

Let the sea roar

and all that fills it

Let the fields exult

and all within them

Then the trees of the forest

will sing for joy

Before the LORD

for He comes

Yes He comes

to judge the earth

He will judge the world

in righteousness

He will judge the peoples

in His faithfulness

Sing to the LORD a new song

Sing to the LORD, all the earth

Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.

Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.

About these songs. They are a summary and a commentary on the Psalms, not a word-for-word translation. Read what these songs are →

What These Songs Are, and What They Are Not

These songs are not a word-for-word translation of the Psalms. They were never meant to be. Nor do they try to capture every idea in every psalm. In a song, that would be impossible.

What we have done is capture the essence of each psalm: what matters most in it. Think of each song as a summary. Think of it as a cheat sheet. The purpose of the psalm is still being met. God's word to mankind is still being heard.

Behind many of these lines is word research: deep study of the meaning of the Hebrew. So where a line sounds different from your translation, and you think it is wrong, study it. We believe you will find that the essence of what we sing is true.

The truth is that no one can set the Psalms to music without also becoming a commentator. That is what this is. It is a modern commentary on the Psalms: not only the Psalms themselves, and not only the Psalms being sung. So do not think that every word of the psalm is here. It is not. Read the psalm itself, in full.

Why do this at all? Because we believe God intended humanity to be surrounded by His word. This was always the entertainment He wanted us to have: not hours of television, not a day lost in a phone looking at nonsense. The blessed man of Psalm 1 meditates on God's word day and night. How can we meditate on His word if we do not surround ourselves with it?

As ministers, our first responsibility is to share God's word with people. That is what these songs are for.

Paul Whitehorn