Salmos 33

1 Regozijai-vos no Senhor, vós justos, pois aos retos fica bem o louvor.

2 Louvai ao Senhor com harpa, cantai-lhe louvores com saltério de dez cordas.

3 Cantai-lhe um cântico novo; tocai bem e com júbilo.

4 Porque a palavra do Senhor é reta; e todas as suas obras são feitas com fidelidade.

5 Ele ama a retidão e a justiça; a terra está cheia da benignidade do Senhor.

6 Pela palavra do Senhor foram feitos os céus, e todo o exército deles pelo sopro da sua boca.

7 Ele ajunta as águas do mar como num montão; põe em tesouros os abismos.

8 Tema ao Senhor a terra toda; temam-no todos os moradores do mundo.

9 Pois ele falou, e tudo se fez; ele mandou, e logo tudo apareceu.

10 O Senhor desfaz o conselho das nações, anula os intentos dos povos.

11 O conselho do Senhor permanece para sempre, e os intentos do seu coração por todas as gerações.

12 Bem-aventurada é a nação cujo Deus é o Senhor, o povo que ele escolheu para sua herança.

13 O Senhor olha lá do céu; vê todos os filhos dos homens;

14 da sua morada observa todos os moradores da terra,

15 aquele que forma o coração de todos eles, que contempla todas as suas obras.

16 Um rei não se salva pela multidão do seu exército; nem o homem valente se livra pela muita força.

17 O cavalo é vã esperança para a vitória; não pode livrar ninguém pela sua grande força.

18 Eis que os olhos do Senhor estão sobre os que o temem, sobre os que esperam na sua benignidade,

19 para os livrar da morte, e para os conservar vivos na fome.

20 A nossa alma espera no Senhor; ele é o nosso auxílio e o nosso escudo.

21 Pois nele se alegra o nosso coração, porquanto temos confiado no seu santo nome.

22 Seja a tua benignidade, Senhor, sobre nós, assim como em ti esperamos.

Salmos 33 Commentary

Chapter 33

God to be praised. (1-11) His people encouraged by his power. (12-22)

Verses 1-11 Holy joy is the heart and soul of praise, and that is here pressed upon the righteous. Thankful praise is the breath and language of holy joy. Religious songs are proper expressions of thankful praise. Every endowment we possess, should be employed with all our skill and earnestness in God's service. His promises are all wise and good. His word is right, and therefore we are only in the right when we agree with it. His works are all done in truth. He is the righteous Lord, therefore loveth righteousness. What a pity it is that this earth, which is so full of the proofs and instances of God's goodness, should be so empty of his praises; and that of the multitudes who live upon his bounty, there are so few who live to his glory! What the Lord does, he does to purpose; it stands fast. He overrules all the counsels of men, and makes them serve his counsels; even that is fulfilled, which to us is most surprising, the eternal counsel of God, nor can any thing prevent its coming to pass.

Verses 12-22 All the motions and operations of the souls of men, which no mortals know but themselves, God knows better than they do. Their hearts, as well as their times, are all in his hand; he formed the spirit of each man within him. All the powers of the creature depend upon him, and are of no account, of no avail at all, without him. If we make God's favour sure towards us, then we need not fear whatever is against us. We are to give to him the glory of his special grace. All human devices for the salvation of our souls are vain; but the Lord's watchful eye is over those whose conscientious fear of his name proceeds from a believing hope in his mercy. In difficulties they shall be helped; in dangers they shall not receive any real damage. Those that fear God and his wrath, must hope in God and his mercy; for there is no flying from him, but by flying to him. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us; let us always have the comfort and benefit, not according to our merits, but according to the promise which thou hast in thy word given to us, and according to the faith thou hast by thy Spirit and grace wrought in us.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 33

Though this psalm has no title to it, it seems to be a psalm of David, from the style and matter of it; and indeed begins with the same words with which the preceding psalm is ended. Theodoret is of opinion it was written by David as a prophecy concerning Hezekiah, as a song to be sung by the people after the destruction of the Assyrian army.