Psalms 33

1 Sing, ye righteous, in Jehovah, For upright ones praise [is] comely.

2 Give ye thanks to Jehovah with a harp, With psaltery of ten strings sing praise to Him,

3 Sing ye to Him a new song, Play skilfully with shouting.

4 For upright [is] the word of Jehovah, And all His work [is] in faithfulness.

5 Loving righteousness and judgment, Of the kindness of Jehovah is the earth full.

6 By the word of Jehovah The heavens have been made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.

7 Gathering as a heap the waters of the sea, Putting in treasuries the depths.

8 Afraid of Jehovah are all the earth, Of Him are all the inhabitants of the world afraid.

9 For He hath said, and it is, He hath commanded, and it standeth.

10 Jehovah made void the counsel of nations, He disallowed the thoughts of the peoples.

11 The counsel of Jehovah to the age standeth, The thoughts of His heart to all generations.

12 O the happiness of the nation whose God [is] Jehovah, Of the people He did choose, For an inheritance to Him.

13 From the heavens hath Jehovah looked, He hath seen all the sons of men.

14 From the fixed place of His dwelling, He looked unto all inhabitants of the earth;

15 Who is forming their hearts together, Who is attending unto all their works.

16 The king is not saved by the multitude of a force. A mighty man is not delivered, By abundance of power.

17 A false thing [is] the horse for safety, And by the abundance of his strength He doth not deliver.

18 Lo, the eye of Jehovah [is] to those fearing Him, To those waiting for His kindness,

19 To deliver from death their soul, And to keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul hath waited for Jehovah, Our help and our shield [is] He,

21 For in Him doth our heart rejoice, For in His holy name we have trusted.

22 Let Thy kindness, O Jehovah, be upon us, As we have waited for Thee!

Psalms 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.