Psalms 96
What Happens in This Chapter
This psalm calls everyone on earth to sing a new song to the LORD. It says the gods of other nations are only idols, but the LORD made the heavens. People are told to bring gifts and worship him. At the end, the sky, sea, fields, and trees are called to be glad because the LORD is coming to judge the earth fairly.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
1Sing a new song to the LORD! Everyone on earth, sing to him.
2Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
2Sing to the LORD. Say good things about his name. Every single day, tell how he saves people.
3Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
3Tell the other nations how great he is. Tell all people about the wonderful things he does.
4For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
4The LORD is great. He deserves lots of praise. People should honor him more than any other god.
5For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
5The gods of other nations are only idols, statues that cannot do anything. But the LORD made the heavens.
An idol is a statue that people treat like a god.
6Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
6Splendor and greatness are all around him. His holy place is full of strength and beauty.
7Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
7All you families of the earth, give the LORD what he deserves. Say that he is glorious and strong.
8Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
8Give the LORD the honor his name deserves. Bring him a gift. Come into the open yards around his holy house.
"Courts" means the open yards around God's house, where people came to worship.
9O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
9Worship the LORD, who is holy and beautiful. Everyone on earth, stand before him with awe.
In the Bible, "fear" before God often means deep respect and wonder, not being scared.
10Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
10Tell the nations, "The LORD is king!" He set the world in place, and it will not be shaken. He will judge people fairly.
11Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
11Let the heavens be glad. Let the earth be happy. Let the sea and everything in it roar.
12Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
12Let the fields be joyful, and everything growing in them. Then all the trees in the woods will sing for joy.
13Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
13They will sing before the LORD, because he is coming. He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in the right way. He will be true to all people.
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