Psalms 97:2-12

2 Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.[a]
3 Fire goes before Him and burns up His foes on every side.
4 His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord [b]- at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim His righteousness; all the peoples see His glory.
7 All who serve carved images, those who boast in idols, will be put to shame. All the gods[c] must worship Him.
8 Zion hears and is glad, and the towns[d] of Judah rejoice because of Your judgments,[e] Lord.
9 For You, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; You are exalted above all the gods.[f]
10 You who love the Lord, hate evil![g] He protects the lives of His godly ones; He rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light dawns[h] [i] for the righteous, gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones,[j] and praise His holy name.[k]

Psalms 97:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 97

This psalm is ascribed to David by the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions. It is of the same argument, and upon the same subject, as the preceding, the coming and kingdom of Christ; and that it respects his first coming into the world, when angels were called upon to worship him, appears from Ps 97:7 compared with Heb 1:6 though it is expressed in such language as seems to agree with his second coming; and, perhaps, both are included, with various things between the one and the other; or it respects the kingdom of Christ, from his first to his second coming; to which agrees the inscription of the Syriac version, which is

``a Psalm of David, in which he prophesies concerning the coming of the Messiah, and again he intimates in it his last appearance.''

Footnotes 11

  • [a]. Dt 4:11; 2 Sm 22:10
  • [b]. Mc 1:4
  • [c]. LXX, Syr read All His angels; Heb 1:6
  • [d]. Lit daughters
  • [e]. Ps 48:11
  • [f]. Ps 95:3; 96:4; 1 Ch 16:25
  • [g]. Am 5:15; Pr 8:13
  • [h]. One Hb ms, LXX, other versions read rises to shine; Ps 112:4
  • [i]. Lit Light is sown
  • [j]. Ps 32:11; 64:10; Jl 2:23
  • [k]. Lit praise the mention, or memory, of His holiness
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