1.
Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Rejoice = Shout for joy. Psalms 33 (without a title) is thus linked on to Psalms 32:11 . Other links maybe noted: Compare Psalms 32:8 with Psalms 33:17 ; and Psalms 32:8 with Psalms 33:18 , &c.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
2.
Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3.
Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
a new song. First occurrence of seven new songs in the O.T. (six in the Psalms: Psalms 33:3 ; Psalms 40:3 ; Psalms 96:1 ; Psalms 98:1 ; Psalms 144:9 ; Psalms 149:1 ; and one in Isaiah 42:10 ). Hebrew. hadash, new, unheard of before.
4.
For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
5.
He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
goodness = lovingkindness.
6.
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
By the word, &c. Quoted in 2 Peter 3:5 .
breath = spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
7.
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
as an heap. Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac read "as a skin-bottle", taking the pointing as in Psalms 119:83 . The Massoretic pointing refers it to Exodus 15:8 .
depth = depths, or abysses.
8.
Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
world = world (as inhabited). Hebrew. tebel,
9.
For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
spake. Referring to the one act.
was done = it became. Refers to the permanent fact.
commanded. Refers to the one act.
stood fast. Refers to the abiding fact.
10.
The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
heathen = nations, or peoples.
11.
The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Blessed = How happy. See App-63 . Compare Psalms 144:15 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
13.
The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
the sons of men = humanity. Hebrew. adam (with Art.) App-14 .
14.
From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15.
He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
16.
There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17.
An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
18.
Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
Behold. Figure of speech Asterism o s . App-6 .
eye. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "eyes" (plural)
hope in = wait for.
mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.
19.
To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
deliver = rescue.
their soul = them themselves. Hebrew. nephesh ( App-13 ),
20.
Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
Our soul = we ourselves. for emphasis.
shield. Hebrew. magen. See note on Psalms 5:12 .
21.
For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
trusted = confided. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .
name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .
22.
Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.