Psalms 67:1

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.

1 [a]May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—[b]

Psalms 67:1 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
New Living Translation (NLT)
1 May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us. Interlude
The Message Bible (MSG)
1 God, mark us with grace and blessing! Smile!
American Standard Version (ASV)
1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us, [And] cause his face to shine upon us; [Selah
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
1 May God have pity on us and bless us! May he smile on us. Selah
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us; look on us with favor Selah
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
1 God, show us your favor. Bless us. May you smile on us with your favor. "Selah"

Psalms 67:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 67:1

God be merciful unto us, and bless us
That is, God, of his unmerited mercy, of his rich grace and free favour, bless us with the coming of his Son, the promised seed, in whom all nations are to be blessed; and with the blessings of peace, pardon, and righteousness in him; all which with him spring from the tender mercy of God, the riches of his grace, and his great love; than which nothing could be more desirable to the Old Testament saints, who were shut up under the law, until faith came; and though children, they differed nothing from servants, being in a state and under a spirit of bondage: for the psalmist seems to represent the whole church under that dispensation: some understand the words as a prophecy, expressing the certainty of what would be; and, as the words may be rendered, "God will be merciful", or "gracious to us F11, and he will bless us"; as he has promised to do;

[and] cause his face to shine upon us;
that is, grant his gracious presence, and the discoveries of his love; that he would favour with communion with himself through Christ, and a greater knowledge of him in him; or that he would cause him, who is his face, his image, the brightness of his glory, to appear and shine forth; the great light, the sun of righteousness, and dayspring from on high, that was to arise and shine upon the people of God. The Targum is,

``and cause the splendour of his face to shine with us always;''

there seems to be some reference to the high priest's form of blessing in ( Numbers 6:24-26 ) .

Selah; on this word, (See Gill on Psalms 3:2).


FOOTNOTES:

F11 (wnnxy) "miserebitur", Gejerus, Schmidt.

Psalms 67:1 In-Context

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—
2 so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
3 May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.
5 May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Numbers 6:24-26; Psalms 4:6

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. In Hebrew texts 67:1-7 is numbered 67:2-8.
  • [b]. The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 4.
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.