Psalm 96-97

Contemporary English Version

Day after day announce,
    “The Lord has saved us!”
³ Tell every nation on earth,
“The Lord is wonderful
    and does marvelous things!
⁴ The Lord is great and deserves
    our greatest praise!
He is the only God
    worthy of our worship.
⁵ Other nations worship idols,
but the Lord created
    the heavens.
⁶ Give honor and praise
    to the Lord,
whose power and beauty
    fill his holy temple.”

^7 (A) Tell everyone of every nation,
“Praise the glorious power
    of the Lord.
⁸ He is wonderful! Praise him
and bring an offering
    into his temple.
⁹ Everyone on earth, now tremble
and worship the Lord,
    majestic and holy.”

¹⁰ Announce to the nations,
    “The Lord is King!
The world stands firm,
    never to be shaken,
and he will judge its people
    with fairness.”

¹¹ Tell the heavens and the earth
    to be glad and celebrate!
Command the ocean to roar
    with all its creatures
¹² and the fields to rejoice
    with all their crops.
Then every tree in the forest
will sing joyful songs
¹³     to the Lord.
He is coming to judge
all people on earth
    with fairness and truth.

⁶ The heavens announce,
“The Lord brings justice!”
    Everyone sees God's glory.
⁷ Those who brag about
the useless idols they worship
    are terribly ashamed,
and all the false gods
    bow down to the Lord.

⁸ When the people of Zion
    and of the towns of Judah
hear that God brings justice,
    they will celebrate.
⁹ The Lord rules the whole earth,
and he is more glorious
    than all the false gods.

¹⁰ Love the Lord
    and hate evil!
God protects his loyal people
and rescues them
    from violence.
¹¹ If you obey and do right,
a light will show you the way
    and fill you with happiness.
¹² You are the Lord's people!
So celebrate and praise
    the only God.