Psalms 96:1-13·~1 min

Sing to the LORD, All the Earth

All the earth is called to sing a new song to the LORD, bless his name, and proclaim his saving work from day to day. His glory and wonders are to be declared among the nations because he is great, greatly to be praised, and worthy of fear above all supposed gods. The idols of the nations are nothing, but the LORD made the heavens, and splendor, majesty, strength, and beauty surround him.

S¹ing to the LORD a new song; ²Sing to the LORD, bless His name; ³Declare His glory among the nations, ⁴For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; ⁵For all the gods of the nations are idols, ⁶Splendor and majesty are before Him;

The families of the nations are urged to ascribe glory and strength to the LORD, bring offerings, and enter his courts in worship. They are to worship in the splendor of holiness and tremble before him, while the central proclamation goes out: the LORD reigns. Because of his reign, the world stands firm and the peoples will be judged with equity.

⁷Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations, ⁸Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; ⁹Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; ¹⁰Declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!”

The psalm ends by summoning the heavens, earth, sea, field, and forest to exult before the LORD. Creation rejoices because he is coming to judge the earth, and his judgment is not arbitrary but marked by righteousness and faithfulness.

¹¹Let the heavens be glad ¹²Let the fields exult, ¹³will sing for joy before the LORD,

Section summaryThe psalm begins by summoning all the earth to sing a new song to the LORD, bless his name, and announce his salvation day after day. It commands God's glory and wonders to be declared among the nations, because he alone is great, worthy of fear, and the Maker of the heavens, unlike the idols of the peoples. The nations are then urged to ascribe glory to the LORD, bring offerings, and tremble before him as his reign is announced. Finally, heaven, earth, sea, field, and forest are called to rejoice because the LORD comes to judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Role in the chapterThis section turns worship outward. It presents praise as proclamation, insisting that the LORD's kingship must be announced to the nations and welcomed by the whole created order.