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Psalm 47[a]

The Ruler of All the Nations

For the leader. A psalm of the Korahites.

I

All you peoples, clap your hands;
    shout to God with joyful cries.(A)
For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,
    the great king over all the earth,(B)
Who made people subject to us,
    nations under our feet,(C)
[b]Who chose our heritage for us,
    the glory of Jacob, whom he loves.(D)
Selah

II

[c]God has gone up with a shout;
    the Lord, amid trumpet blasts.(E)
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
    sing praise to our king, sing praise.

III

For God is king over all the earth;(F)
    sing hymns of praise.
God rules over the nations;
    God sits upon his holy throne.
10 The princes of the peoples assemble
    with the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God,
    highly exalted.(G)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 47 A hymn calling on the nations to acknowledge the universal rule of Israel’s God (Ps 47:2–5) who is enthroned as king over Israel and the nations (Ps 47:6–9).
  2. 47:5 Our heritage…the glory: the land of Israel (cf. Is 58:14), which God has given Israel in an act of sovereignty.
  3. 47:6 God has gone up: Christian liturgical tradition has applied the verse to the Ascension of Christ.

47 Come, everyone, and clap for joy! Shout triumphant praises to the Lord! For the Lord, the God above all gods, is awesome beyond words; he is the great King of all the earth. He subdues the nations before us and will personally select his choicest blessings for his Jewish people[a]—the very best for those he loves.

God has ascended with a mighty shout, with trumpets blaring. 6-7 Sing out your praises to our God, our King. Yes, sing your highest praises to our King, the King of all the earth. Sing thoughtful praises! He reigns above the nations, sitting on his holy throne. The Gentile rulers of the world have joined with us in praising him—praising[b] the God of Abraham—for the battle shields of all the armies of the world are his trophies. He is highly honored everywhere.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 47:4 his Jewish people, literally, “the pride of Jacob.”
  2. Psalm 47:9 praising . . . praising, implied.

Psalm 47[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Clap your hands,(A) all you nations;
    shout to God with cries of joy.(B)

For the Lord Most High(C) is awesome,(D)
    the great King(E) over all the earth.
He subdued(F) nations under us,
    peoples under our feet.
He chose our inheritance(G) for us,
    the pride of Jacob,(H) whom he loved.[b]

God has ascended(I) amid shouts of joy,(J)
    the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.(K)
Sing praises(L) to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;(M)
    sing to him a psalm(N) of praise.

God reigns(O) over the nations;
    God is seated on his holy throne.(P)
The nobles of the nations assemble
    as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings[c] of the earth belong to God;(Q)
    he is greatly exalted.(R)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 47:1 In Hebrew texts 47:1-9 is numbered 47:2-10.
  2. Psalm 47:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  3. Psalm 47:9 Or shields