1 Sing, ye righteous, in Jehovah, For upright ones praise `is' comely.
Be glad in Jehovah, and rejoice, ye righteous, And sing, all ye upright of heart!
Praise ye Jah! For `it is' good to praise our God, For pleasant -- comely `is' praise.
Sacrifice to God confession, And complete to the Most High thy vows. And call Me in a day of adversity, I deliver thee, and thou honourest Me. And to the wicked hath God said: What to thee -- to recount My statutes? That thou liftest up My covenant on thy mouth?
And -- they deceive Him with their mouth, And with their tongue do lie to Him, And their heart hath not been right with Him, And they have not been stedfast in His covenant.
A voice of singing and salvation, `Is' in the tents of the righteous, The right hand of Jehovah is doing valiantly.
Praise ye Jah! for Jehovah `is' good, Sing praise to His name, for `it is' pleasant.
according as it hath been written -- `There is none righteous, not even one;
for as through the disobedience of the one man, the many were constituted sinners: so also through the obedience of the one, shall the many be constituted righteous.
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).