Corpus Psalterium · Vol. IV
Psalm XCVII (97)
Cantillated — Theophanic Declarative Praise
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 97 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
Yahweh reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad!
יְהוָ֣ה מָ֭לָךְ תָּגֵ֣ל הָאָ֑רֶץ יִ֝שְׂמְח֗וּ אִיִּ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃
Clouds and darkness are around him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
עָנָ֣ן וַעֲרָפֶ֣ל סְבִיבָ֑יו צֶ֥דֶק וּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט מְכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֽוֹ׃
A fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries on every side.
אֵ֭שׁ לְפָנָ֣יו תֵּלֵ֑ךְ וּתְלַהֵ֖ט סָבִ֣יב צָרָֽיו׃
His lightning lights up the world. The earth sees, and trembles.
הֵאִ֣ירוּ בְרָקָ֣יו תֵּבֵ֑ל רָאֲתָ֖ה וַתָּחֵ֣ל הָאָֽרֶץ׃
The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Yahweh, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
הָרִ֗ים כַּדּוֹנַ֗ג נָ֭מַסּוּ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה מִ֝לִּפְנֵ֗י אֲד֣וֹן כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
The heavens declare his righteousness. All the peoples have seen his glory.
הִגִּ֣ידוּ הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם צִדְק֑וֹ וְרָא֖וּ כָל־הָעַמִּ֣ים כְּבוֹדֽוֹ׃
Let all them be shamed who serve engraved images, who boast in their idols. Worship him, all you gods!
יֵבֹ֤שׁוּ ׀ כָּל־עֹ֬בְדֵי פֶ֗סֶל הַמִּֽתְהַלְלִ֥ים בָּאֱלִילִ֑ים הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ־ל֝וֹ כָּל־אֱלֹהִֽים׃
Zion heard and was glad. The daughters of Judah rejoiced because of your judgments, Yahweh.
שָׁמְעָ֬ה וַתִּשְׂמַ֨ח ׀ צִיּ֗וֹן וַ֭תָּגֵלְנָה בְּנ֣וֹת יְהוּדָ֑ה לְמַ֖עַן מִשְׁפָּטֶ֣יךָ יְהוָֽה׃
For you, Yahweh, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods.
כִּֽי־אַתָּ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה עֶלְי֥וֹן עַל־כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ מְאֹ֥ד נַ֝עֲלֵ֗יתָ עַל־כָּל־אֱלֹהִֽים׃
You who love Yahweh, hate evil! He preserves the souls of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
אֹהֲבֵ֥י יְהוָ֗ה שִׂנְא֫וּ רָ֥ע שֹׁ֭מֵר נַפְשׁ֣וֹת חֲסִידָ֑יו מִיַּ֥ד רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים יַצִּילֵֽם׃
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
א֭וֹר זָרֻ֣עַ לַצַּדִּ֑יק וּֽלְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵ֥ב שִׂמְחָֽה׃
Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous people! Give thanks to his holy Name.
שִׂמְח֣וּ צַ֭דִּיקִים בַּֽיהוָ֑ה וְ֝הוֹד֗וּ לְזֵ֣כֶר קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃
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.
The LORD reigns
Let the earth rejoice
Let many coastlands
be glad
Cloud and thick darkness
surround Him
Righteousness and justice
are the foundation of His throne
Fire goes before Him
It burns all around
It burns His enemies
on every side
His lightning flashes
light up the world
The earth sees
the earth trembles
The mountains melt
like wax before Him
Before the LORD
the Lord of all the earth
The heavens declare
His righteousness
All the peoples
see His glory
All who serve images
will be ashamed
Those who boast in idols
fall down
Worship Him
all you gods
Bow down
before Him
Zion hears
and rejoices
The daughters of Judah
are glad
Because of Your judgments
O LORD
You are the LORD
Most High over all the earth
Far above
all gods
You are the LORD
Most High over all the earth
Far above
all gods
Lovers of the LORD
hate evil
He guards the lives
of His faithful ones
From the hand of the wicked
He delivers them
Light is sown
for the righteous
Joy is sown
for the upright in heart
Rejoice in the LORD
you righteous
Give thanks
to His holy name
Rejoice in the LORD
you righteous
Give thanks
to His holy name
The LORD reigns
Let the earth rejoice
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.