Psalms 66

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 66

1¶ To the chief Musician, A Song [or] Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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].

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

14Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, 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.

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

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

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

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

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

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Psalms 66 opens with a universal call to all lands to praise God for His awesome works and mighty power, which caused the sea to part and enemies to submit. The psalmist then recounts how God tested His people through affliction and trials, yet ultimately delivered them into a place of abundance. The psalm concludes with the psalmist's personal vow to offer sacrifices and testify of God's faithfulness in hearing his prayers, affirming that God hears those who do not regard iniquity.

Medium Summary

Psalm 66 opens with an exhortation for all the earth to make a joyful noise and sing praises to God, acknowledging His terrible works and the greatness of His power, which compels even His enemies to submit. It recalls God's miraculous act of parting the sea, allowing His people to pass through on dry land, and emphasizes His eternal rule over the nations. The psalmist then shifts to a communal reflection, blessing God for preserving life and preventing their downfall, despite having been tested and afflicted like silver. God is depicted as having led them through severe trials, including being ensnared and oppressed, yet ultimately bringing them to a place of prosperity. The psalm transitions to a personal testimony, where the psalmist vows to fulfill offerings made during distress. He invites others to hear his declaration of God's personal intervention, affirming that God heard his cries because he did not cherish iniquity in his heart. The psalm concludes by blessing God for answering his prayer and extending His mercy.

Long Summary

Psalm 66 is a multifaceted hymn, commencing with a fervent call for all lands to make a joyful noise unto God, to sing forth the honor of His name, and to make His praise glorious. It invites all to behold God's terrible works, emphasizing that through the greatness of His power, His enemies are compelled to submit, and all the earth will worship Him. The psalmist specifically references the miraculous turning of the sea into dry land, allowing passage on foot, as a historical example of God's awesome intervention and a cause for rejoicing. This section concludes by affirming God's eternal rule and His constant watch over the nations, warning the rebellious against exalting themselves. The psalm then shifts to a communal thanksgiving, urging people to bless God for preserving their lives and preventing their feet from being moved. It acknowledges that God has indeed tested His people, likening their trials to the refining of silver, bringing them into a net, and laying affliction upon them. They endured severe oppression, symbolized by "men to ride over our heads," and passed "through fire and through water," yet God ultimately brought them into a "wealthy place." The focus then narrows to the psalmist's personal commitment, vowing to enter God's house with burnt offerings and to fulfill the vows uttered during his time of trouble, specifying various animal sacrifices. He then extends an invitation to all who fear God to hear his personal testimony of what God has done for his soul, recounting how he cried out to God and extolled Him. A crucial theological point is made: if the psalmist had regarded iniquity in his heart, the Lord would not have heard him. However, he emphatically declares that God did hear his prayer and attended to the voice of his supplication. The psalm concludes with a doxology, blessing God for not turning away his prayer nor His mercy from him, underscoring God's faithfulness and responsiveness to the upright.

Core Concepts

  • Universal PraiseThe psalm begins by calling "all ye lands" and "all the earth" to worship God, emphasizing that His glory and power are to be acknowledged by all nations, not just Israel.
  • God's Mighty WorksThe text highlights God's "terrible works," specifically referencing the parting of the Red Sea as a historical demonstration of His power over creation and His ability to deliver His people.
  • Divine Testing and DeliveranceGod is depicted as one who "proveth" and "trieth" His people "as silver is tried," leading them through severe afflictions like nets, oppression, fire, and water, but ultimately bringing them to a "wealthy place."
  • Vows and SacrificesThe psalmist expresses a personal commitment to fulfill vows made during distress by offering burnt sacrifices and various animals in God's house, demonstrating gratitude for deliverance.
  • Conditions for Answered PrayerA key theological principle is stated: God will not hear prayer if "iniquity" is "regarded in my heart," implying that a sincere heart free from cherished sin is prerequisite for divine attention.
  • Personal TestimonyThe psalmist invites others to "come and hear" his declaration of what God has done for his soul, providing a personal witness to God's faithfulness in answering his specific prayer.
  • God's Unfailing MercyThe psalm concludes with a blessing to God for not turning away the psalmist's prayer nor withholding His mercy, affirming God's consistent compassion and responsiveness to His supplicants.