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!
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).