Psalms 99:1-8

1 The LORD is king! Let the nations tremble! He sits on his throne between the cherubim. Let the whole earth quake!

2 The LORD sits in majesty in Jerusalem, exalted above all the nations.

3 Let them praise your great and awesome name. Your name is holy!

4 Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established fairness. You have acted with justice and righteousness throughout Israel.

5 Exalt the LORD our God! Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!

6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests; Samuel also called on his name. They cried to the LORD for help, and he answered them.

7 He spoke to Israel from the pillar of cloud, and they followed the laws and decrees he gave them.

8 O LORD our God, you answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, but you punished them when they went wrong.

Psalms 99:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 99

This psalm, with the foregoing from Ps 90:1 is ascribed to Moses by Jarchi and others; but cannot be his, since mention is made of Samuel in it, who lived many years after him. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, more rightly attribute it to David; the inscription of the Syriac version, after saying it is David's, subjoins,

``concerning the destruction of the Midianites, whom Moses and the people of Israel led captive;''

of which there is not the least mention in it; but it more truly adds,

``and a prophecy concerning the glory of the kingdom of the Messiah;''

as it undoubtedly is.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew Zion.
• [b]. Hebrew Jacob. See note on 44:4 .