66
For the Chief Musician. A song. A Psalm.
Context: Likely in retrospect after Babylon [Confusion] exile and God replanting Israel [God prevails] in the land. In the second year the foundation of the second Temple was built, this was amazing to all. Similar structure to Chronicles, post-exile. Possibly, a teaching Psalm for the people to learn history and right actions by. (Ezra 3)
1 Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
2 Make zahmar ·musical praise· to the kavod ·weighty glory· of his name!
Offer kavod ·weighty glory· and tehilah ·praise song·!
3 Tell God, “How awesome are your deeds!
Through the greatness of your power, your enemies submit themselves to you.
4 All the earth will hawa ·bow low, prostrate· to worship you,
and will make zahmar ·musical praise· to you;
they will make zahmar ·musical praise· to your name.”
Selah ·contemplation with musical interlude·.
5 Come, and see God’s deeds—
awesome work on behalf of the children of men.
6 He turned the sea into dry land.
They went through the river on foot.
There, we rejoiced in him.
7 He rules by his might forever.
His eyes watch the nations.
Don’t let the rebellious rise up against him.
Selah ·contemplation with musical interlude·.
8 Praise our God, you peoples!
Make the sound of his tehilah ·praise song· be sh'ma ·heard obeyed·,
9 who preserves our life among the living,
and does not allow our feet to be moved.
10 For you, God, have tested us.
You have refined us, as silver is refined.
11 You brought us into prison.
You laid a burden on our backs.
12 You allowed men to ride over our heads.
We went through fire and through water,
but you brought us to the place of abundance.
13 I will come into your temple with burnt offerings.
I will pay my vows to you, 14 which my lips promised,
and my mouth spoke, when I was in distress.
15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fat animals,
with the offering of rams,
I will offer bulls with goats.
Selah ·contemplation with musical interlude·.
16 Come, and sh'ma ·hear obey·, all you who fear God.
I will declare what he has done for my soul.
17 I cried to him with my mouth.
He was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I cherished vain striving of iniquity in my heart,
'Adonay [Lord] would not have sh'ma ·heard obeyed·.
19 But most certainly, God has sh'ma ·heard obeyed·.
He has heard the voice of my prayer. *
20 Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer,
nor his loving kindness from me.
* 66:19 . (18-19) Quoted in John 9:31