1 Rejoice in Jehovah, O ye righteous: Praise is comely for the upright.
2 Give thanks unto Jehovah with the harp: Sing praises unto him with the psaltery of ten strings.
3 Sing unto him a new song; Play skilfully with a loud noise.
4 For the word of Jehovah is right; And all his work is `done' in faithfulness.
5 He loveth righteousness and justice: The earth is full of the lovingkindness of Jehovah.
6 By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: He layeth up the deeps in store-houses.
8 Let all the earth fear Jehovah: Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
10 Jehovah bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought; He maketh the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.
11 The counsel of Jehovah standeth fast for ever, The thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah, The people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
13 Jehovah looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men;
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh forth Upon all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 He that fashioneth the hearts of them all, That considereth all their works.
16 There is no king saved by the multitude of a host: A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a vain thing for safety; Neither doth he deliver any by his great power.
18 Behold, the eye of Jehovah is upon them that fear him, Upon them that hope in his lovingkindness;
19 To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul hath waited for Jehovah: He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, Because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, be upon us, According as we have hoped in thee. Psalm 34 A Psalm of David; when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 33
Commentary on Psalms 33 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 33
Ps 33:1-22. A call to lively and joyous praise to God for His glorious attributes and works, as displayed in creation, and His general and special providence, in view of which, the Psalmist, for all the pious, professes trust and joy and invokes God's mercy.
1-3. The sentiment falls in with Ps 32:11 (compare 1Co 14:15). The instruments (Ps 92:3; 144:9) do not exclude the voice.
3. a new song—fresh, adapted to the occasion (Ps 40:3; 96:1).
play skilfully—(Compare 1Sa 16:17).
4-9. Reasons for praise: first, God's truth, faithfulness, and mercy, generally; then, His creative power which all must honor.
6. In "word" and "breath"—or, "spirit," there may be an allusion to the Son (Joh 1:1) and Holy Spirit.
9. he spake—literally, "said."
it was—The addition of "done" weakens the sense (compare Ge 1:3-10).
10, 11. In God's providence He thwarts men's purposes and executes His own.
heathen—literally, "nations."
12-19. The inference from the foregoing in Ps 33:12 is illustrated by God's special providence, underlying which is His minute knowledge of all men.
13. looketh—intently (Isa 14:16).
15. fashioneth—or, "forms," and hence knows and controls (Pr 21:1).
alike—without exception.
considereth—or, "understands"; God knows men's motives.
16, 17. Men's usual reliances in their greatest exigencies are, in themselves, useless.
17. On the war horse (compare Job 39:19-25).
a vain thing—a lie, which deceives us.
18, 19. Contrasted is God's guidance and power to save from the greatest earthly evil and its most painful precursor, and hence from all.
20-22. waiteth—in earnest expectation.
21. his holy name—(Compare Ps 5:12; 22:22; 30:4). Our faith measures mercy (Mt 9:29); and if of grace, it is no more of debt (Ro 11:6).