Psalms 67:1-6

1 May God 1be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to 2shine upon us, Selah
2 that 3your way may be known on earth, your 4saving power among all nations.
3 5Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you 6judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
5 7Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
6 The earth has 8yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us.

Psalms 67:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm [or] Song. According to the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, this psalm is a psalm of David; and very probably it was written by him, since the spirit and language of it agree with that sweet singer of Israel, though his name is not in the title; wherefore Aben Ezra says, we know not who composed it: and so the inscription of the Syriac version pronounces the same uncertain; which adds, "the people sung it when they brought David over Jordan;" meaning after Absalom's rebellion was over, 2 Samuel 19:41; but what follows better expresses the occasion and intent of it; "but to us it intimates a prophecy in it concerning the calling of the Gentiles, and the preaching of the apostles; likewise concerning the judgments of the Lord:" and it seems indeed to breathe out the desires of the church after the coming of Christ, and spiritual blessings by him, and the spread of the Gospel among the Gentiles, as what would bring forth much fruit in the earth, and be the occasion of great joy. The ancient Jews {i} apply it
abl dytel, "to future time"; the world to come, the times of the Messiah: and Kimchi understands it of the gathering of the present captivity when the Messiah comes, and of the destruction of Gog and Magog. Of the word "neginoth," See Gill on "Ps 4:1," title.

{i} Debarim Rabba, s. 1. fol. 233. 4. Yalkut Simeoni in loc.

Cross References 8

  • 1. Numbers 6:25
  • 2. See Psalms 4:6
  • 3. [Acts 18:25]
  • 4. Psalms 98:3; Luke 2:30; Titus 2:11
  • 5. See Psalms 22:27
  • 6. See Psalms 58:11
  • 7. [See ver. 3 above]
  • 8. Psalms 85:12; Leviticus 26:4; Ezekiel 34:27; [Hosea 2:22]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.