1.
O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
a new song. Psalms 96 is the call; Psalms 97 is the answer. Compare Psalms 98 and Psalms 99 . The subject is the coming rest for the earth, to which creation looks forward Romans 8:18-23 ).
the earth. This is the subject of Book IV. See notes on p. 809.
2.
Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
His name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .
3.
Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
heathen = nations.
people = peoples.
4.
For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
gods = rulers. Hebrew. 'elohim. App-4 . See note on Exodus 22:9 .
5.
For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
all the gods . . . idols. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6 Hebrew. kalelohey . . . 'elilim.
nations = peoples.
idols = nothings. Compare 1 Corinthians 8:4 .
6.
Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
beauty. Some codices read "joy". Compare 1 Chronicles 16:27 .
sanctuary. Some codices read "dwelling-place". as in 1 Chronicles 16:27 .
7.
Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
8.
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
offering = presence offerings. Hebrew. minchah. App-43 .
come into His courts. Some codices read "enter before Him". Compare 1 Chronicles 16:29 .
9.
O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
the beauty of holiness. See note on 1 Chronicles 16:29 .
Fear = Tremble.
10.
Say 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.
shall be established. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read "He hath fixed".
11.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad. The initials of the four Hebrew words making this sentence form an acrostic ( App-6 , App-60 , and App-63 ), giving the four letters of the word JEHOVAH ( Y, H, V, H ) thus:
Y ismehu H ashshamayim V ethagel H a'arez.
The Massorah ( App-30 ) has a special rubric calling attention to this acrostic.
12.
Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
Then shall. Ginsburg thinks this should be "Yea, let".
13.
Before 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.
Before. See note on "presence" (Psalms 95:2 .
He cometh . . . He cometh. Figure of speech. Epteeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis.
the world = the habitable world. Hebrew. tebel. No rest or righteous rule for the world and its inhabitants until He comes. The next Psalm is " the New Song", celebrating this by anticipation.