Psalms 24
What Happens in This Chapter
This psalm says the whole earth belongs to God, because he made it. Then it asks who may come up the hill to God's holy place. The answer is people who do right and tell the truth. The last part calls for the gates to open wide so the King of glory can come in.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
1The earth belongs to the LORD. Everything in it is his. The whole world is his, and all the people who live in it.
2For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
2He made the earth. He set it firmly in place above the seas and the deep waters.
3Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
3Who may climb the hill where the LORD lives? Who may stand in his holy place?
4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
4The person who does what is right and thinks what is right. He does not give his heart to fake gods. He does not make promises he means to break.
The KJV says "lifted up his soul unto vanity." Here "vanity" does not mean being proud of how you look. It means something empty and worthless, like an idol.
5He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
5The LORD will bless that person. God will say he has done right. God is the one who saves him.
6This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
6These are the kind of people who look for God. They want to be near him. This is what the people of Jacob do. Selah.
"Selah" is a music word. Nobody today knows for sure what it meant. It may have told the singers to pause.
7Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
7Open up wide, you gates! Swing open, you old, old doors! The King of glory is coming in!
The KJV says "Lift up your heads, O ye gates." The gates are being told to open up tall and wide, the way a city opens for its king.
8Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
8Who is this King of glory? He is the LORD, strong and powerful. He is the LORD who wins in battle.
9Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
9Open up wide, you gates! Swing open, you old, old doors! The King of glory is coming in!
10Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
10Who is this King of glory? He is the LORD who rules over every army in heaven. He is the King of glory. Selah.
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