Psalms

Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:

1Shout for joy to God, everyone on earth!

2Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.

2Sing about how great his name is. Make your praise of him splendid.

3Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

3Say to God, "The things you do are awesome! Your power is so great that your enemies bow down before you."

Note"Terrible" in the KJV means awe-inspiring, not awful. It describes power that leaves people amazed, not something bad.

4All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.

4Everyone on earth will bow to you and sing to you. They will sing praise to your name. Selah.

5Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.

5Come and look at what God has done. What he does for people is awesome.

6He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.

6He turned the sea into dry ground. They walked through the water on foot. There we were glad because of him.

7He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.

7He rules by his power forever. His eyes watch the nations. Those who rebel should not think highly of themselves. Selah.

8O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:

8Praise our God, all you peoples. Let the sound of his praise be heard.

9Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.

9He keeps us alive. He does not let our feet slip.

10For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

10God, you have tested us. You have put us through the fire, the way silver is purified.

11Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.

11You let us be caught in a net. You laid heavy loads on our backs.

12Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

12You let men ride right over our heads. We went through fire and water. But you brought us out to a place where we had plenty.

Note"A wealthy place" does not just mean rich in money. It means a place of safety and plenty after hardship.

13I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,

13I will come into your house with burnt offerings. I will do what I promised you.

NoteA burnt offering was an animal completely burned on the altar as a gift to God. "Paying vows" means doing what you promised God you would do.

14Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.

14These are the promises I made out loud when I was in trouble.

15I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.

15I will burn my best animals as offerings to you, with the smoke of rams. I will offer bulls and goats. Selah.

16Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

16Come and listen, all you who honor God, and I will tell you what he has done for me.

17I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.

17I called out to him with my mouth, and my tongue praised him.

18If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

18If I had held on to sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened to me.

19But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.

19But God really did listen. He paid attention to my prayer.

20Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

20Praise God! He did not turn my prayer away, and he did not hold back his faithful love from me.