Psalms 47
What Happens in This Chapter
This is a song of praise for God as King. It calls everyone to clap and shout with joy. It says God rules over the whole earth and sits on his throne. The leaders of many nations gather together as one people.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
1Clap your hands, all you people everywhere! Shout to God with happy voices.
2For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
2The LORD Most High is awesome. He is a great King over the whole earth.
The King James Bible says God is "terrible." That old word meant awesome, or so great that people feel wonder. It did not mean bad.
3He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
3He wins the battle for us. He puts other nations under our feet.
4He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
4He picks out the land that will be ours. It is the pride of Jacob, the people God loves. Selah.
"Selah" is a Hebrew word found in songs. Nobody today knows for sure what it meant. It may have been a pause in the music.
5God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
5God has gone up while people shout for joy. The LORD went up with the sound of a horn.
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.
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 come together. They join the people of the God of Abraham. All the rulers who guard the earth belong to God. He is lifted up very high.
"Shields of the earth" means the kings and leaders who protect their people, like a shield protects a soldier.
← → to turn the page · P for plain English · click a verse to sit with it