Psalms

PSALM 47*

The Ruler of All the Nations

1For the leader. A psalm of the Korahites.

I

2All you peoples, clap your hands;

shout to God with joyful cries.a

3For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,

the great king over all the earth,b

4Who made people subject to us,

nations under our feet,c

5*Who chose our heritage for us,

the glory of Jacob, whom he loves.d

Selah

II

6*God has gone up with a shout;

the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.e

7Sing praise to God, sing praise;

sing praise to our king, sing praise.

III

8For God is king over all the earth;f

sing hymns of praise.

9God rules over the nations;

God sits upon his holy throne.

10The princes of the peoples assemble

with the people of the God of Abraham.

For the shields of the earth belong to God,

highly exalted.g

* [Psalm 47] A hymn calling on the nations to acknowledge the universal rule of Israel’s God (Ps 47:2–5) who is enthroned as king over Israel and the nations (Ps 47:6–9).

* [47:5] Our heritage…the glory: the land of Israel (cf. Is 58:14), which God has given Israel in an act of sovereignty.

* [47:6] God has gone up: Christian liturgical tradition has applied the verse to the Ascension of Christ.

a. [47:2] Ps 89:16; Zep 3:14.

b. [47:3] Ps 95:3; Ex 15:18; Is 24:23; 52:7.

c. [47:4] Ps 2:8.

d. [47:5] Is 58:14.

e. [47:6] Ps 24:8, 10; 68:18–19; 98:6.

f. [47:8–9] Ps 72:11; 93:1; 96:10; 97:1; 99:1; Jer 10:7.

g. [47:10] Ps 89:19; Ex 3:6; Is 2:2–4.

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