Psalms

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

1Clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with a glad, victorious voice.

2For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

2The LORD Most High fills people with awe. He is a great King over the whole earth.

Note"Terrible" in 1611 English meant awe-inspiring, not horrible. The idea is that God is so great that people are filled with wonder.

3He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

3He puts other peoples under our power. He brings nations under our feet.

4He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

4He picks out our land for us. It is the pride of Jacob, the people he loves. Selah.

Note"Selah" is a word left untranslated. It is probably a music direction, perhaps a pause or a swell in the instruments.

5God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.

5God has gone up to his throne while people shout. The LORD has gone up as the horn sounds.

6Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.

6Sing praises to God, sing praises. Sing praises to our King, sing praises!

7For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

7God is King of all the earth. So sing your praises with your whole mind awake.

8God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

8God rules over all the nations. God sits on his holy throne.

9The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

9The leaders of the nations gather as one people, the people of the God of Abraham. The shields of the earth belong to God. He is lifted very high.

Note"Shields" here likely stands for kings and rulers, who were seen as the protectors of their people.