Psalms for a Pandemic Summer 4 Psalm 96

Life does not stay disrupted for ever.  Like water, it seeks a new equilibrium, a new path.  Spending some time during our disruption with those who have been there before us can help us to make our new path a more just and peaceful one.  The Psalms can help us emerge from our crisis with hope in our hearts and joy on our lips.


Psalm 96
O sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.

3 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples.
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
    he is to be revered above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Honor and majesty are before him;
    strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

10 Say among the nations, “The Lord is king!
    The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
    He will judge the peoples with equity.”
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
    let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12     let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13     before the Lord; for he is coming,
    for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
    and the peoples with his truth.

 Sing praises to God, hymns of joy.

Tell the world about God,

Tell the world about God’s marvels and mysteries,

 

Everything else that people worship is useless,

Money corrupts, beauty fades, power passes,

 

God, the creator, firmly established the world,

its systems and elements, its seasons and cycles

strength and beauty that endure belong to God,

 

God will judge, and judge rightly all the peoples who inhabit the earth.

 

All creation will sing the praises of the creator,

The sea will roar, and the forest sing,

The field cheer and the creatures dance.

 

People will shout for joy for God is coming, bringing truth and justice,

Peace and prosperity, for everyone. 



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