Psalms 66:2-12

2 Sing to the glory of his name! Offer glory and praise!

3 Tell God, "How awesome are your deeds! Through the greatness of your power, Your enemies will submit themselves to you.

4 All the eretz will worship you, And will sing to you; They will sing to your name." Selah.

5 Come, and see God's deeds -- Awesome work on behalf of the children of men.

6 He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There, we rejoiced in him.

7 He rules by his might forever. His eyes watch the nations. Don't let the rebellious rise up against him. Selah.

8 Praise our God, you peoples! Make the sound of his praise heard,

9 Who preserves our life among the living, And doesn't allow our feet to be moved.

10 For you, God, have tested us. You have refined us, as silver is refined.

11 You brought us into prison. You laid a burden on our backs.

12 You allowed men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water, But you brought us to the place of abundance.

Psalms 66:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, A Song [or] Psalm. This psalm does not bear the name of David in the title of it, yet is generally thought to be one of his; but because the plural number is used in it, which is not so common in David's psalms, Aben Ezra is of opinion it is not his, but written by the singers. This is not a sufficient objection: and besides, in Psalm 66:13, the singular number is used. The Arabic version ascribes it to David, and that version makes the subject matter of it to be "concerning the resurrection"; as do the Septuagint, Ethiopic, and Vulgate Latin versions. The title of the Syriac version is, "concerning sacrifices and burnt offerings, and the incense of rams; the spiritual sense intimates to us the calling of the Gentiles, and the preaching, that is, of the Gospel;" which comes nearest the truth: for the psalm respects Gospel times, and the church of Christ under the New Testament, spread throughout the world, and especially as it will be in the latter day; see Psalm 66:1; and so in Yalkut Simeoni on the psalm, it is said to be a psalm for time to come, and agrees with Zephaniah 3:9; "I will turn to the people a pure language," &c. Kimchi says it is a psalm concerning the gathering of the captives of Israel; and so Jarchi and Obadiah expound it; and Theodoret says David wrote this psalm for the captives in Babylon.