1 Exult, ye righteous, in Jehovah: praise is comely for the upright.
2 Give thanks unto Jehovah with the harp; sing psalms unto him with the ten-stringed lute.
3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud sound.
4 For the word of Jehovah is right, and all his work is in faithfulness.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the loving-kindness 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 storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear Jehovah; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For *he* spoke, and it was [done]; *he* commanded, and it stood fast.
10 Jehovah frustrateth the counsel of the nations; he maketh the thoughts of the peoples of none effect.
11 The counsel of Jehovah standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah, the people that he hath chosen for his inheritance!
13 Jehovah looketh from the heavens; 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 who fashioneth the hearts of them all, who considereth all their works.
16 The king is not saved by the multitude of [his] forces; a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 The horse is a vain thing for safety; neither doth he deliver by his great power.
18 Behold, the eye of Jehovah is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his loving-kindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for Jehovah: he is our help and our shield.
21 For in him shall our heart rejoice, because we have confided in his holy name.
22 Let thy loving-kindness, O Jehovah, be upon us, according as we have hoped in thee.
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).