Psalms 97
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 97 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.
7 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo. The translator's notes for this chapter (1) follow the text.
Psalms 97
1(98) A Psalm of David. Sing to the Lord a new song; for the Lord has wrought wonderful works, his right hand, and his holy arm, have wrought salvation for him.Ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ. Ἄσατε τῷ Κυρίῳ ᾆσμα καινὸν, ὅτι θαυμαστὰ ἐποίησεν ὁ Κύριος· ἔσωσεν αὐτῷ ἡ δεξιὰ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ βραχίων ὁ ἅγιος αὐτοῦ.
2The Lord has made known his salvation, he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.Ἐγνώρισε Κύριος τὸ σωτήριον αὐτοῦ, ἐναντίον τῶν ἐθνῶν ἀπεκάλυψε τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ.
3He has remembered his mercy to Jacob, and his truth to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.Ἐμνήσθη τοῦ ἐλέους αὐτοῦ τῷ Ἰακὼβ, καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας αὐτοῦ τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰσραήλ· εἴδοσαν πάντα τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν.
4Shout to God, all the earth; sing, and exult, and sing psalms.Ἀλαλάξατε τῷ Θεῷ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ, ᾄσατε καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε καὶ ψάλατε.
5Sing to the Lord with a harp, with a harp, and the voice of a psalm.Ψάλατε τῷ Κυρίῳ ἐν κιθάρᾳ, ἐν κιθάρᾳ καὶ φωνῇ ψαλμοῦ.
6With trumpets of metal, and the sound of a trumpet of horn make a joyful noise to the Lord before the king.Ἐν σάλπιγξιν ἐλαταῖς, καὶ φωνῇ σάλπιγγος κερατίνης· ἀλαλάξατε ἐνώπιον τοῦ βασιλέως Κυρίῳ.
7Let the sea be moved, and the fullness of it; the world, and they that dwell in it.Σαλευθήτω ἡ θάλασσα καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς, ἡ οἰκουμένη καὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες αὐτήν.
8The rivers shall clap their hands together; the mountains shall exult. *Ποταμοὶ κροτήσουσι χειρὶ ἐπιτοαυτὸ, τὰ ὄρη ἀγαλλιάσονται.
9For he is come to judge the earth; he shall judge the world in righteousness, and the nations in uprightness.Ὅτι ἥκει κρῖναι τὴν γῆν· κρινεῖ τὴν οἰκουμένην ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, καὶ λαοὺς ἐν εὐθύτητι.
Translator's Notes
These notes come from the printed edition of Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), and record where the Greek differs from the English rendering or admits more than one reading.
- v. 8*Alex. + before the Lord, for he comes.
The Fathers on Psalms 97
Saint Augustine of Hippo comments on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On Psalms 97:1Saint Augustine of Hippo1. “O sing unto the Lord a new song” (ver. 1). The new man knoweth this, the old man knoweth it not. The old man is the old life, and the new man the new life: the old life is derived from Adam, the new life is formed in Christ. But in this Psalm, the whole world is enjoined to sing a new song. More openly elsewhere the words are these: “O sing unto the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord, all the whole earth;”…
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On Psalms 97:2Saint Augustine of Hippo2. “The Lord hath made known His salvation” (ver. 2). This very right hand, this very arm, this very salvation, is our Lord Jesus Christ of whom it is said, “And all flesh shall see the salvation of God;” of whom also that Simeon who embraced the Infant in his arms, spoke, “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.” “The Lord hath made known His salvation.” To whom…
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On Psalms 97:3Saint Augustine of Hippo3. “He hath remembered His mercy to Jacob, and His truth unto the house of Israel” (ver. 3). What meaneth this, “He hath remembered His mercy and truth”? He hath pitied, so that He promised; because He promised and showed His mercy, truth hath followed: mercy hath gone before promise, promise hath been fulfilled in truth.… “And His truth unto the house of Israel.” Who is this Israel? That ye may not perchance…
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On Psalms 97:6Saint Augustine of Hippo4. Because they have seen, then, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands” (ver. 4). Ye already know what it is to make a joyful noise. Rejoice, and speak. If ye cannot express your joy, shout ye; let the shout manifest your joy, if your speech cannot: yet let not joy be mute; let not your heart be silent respecting its God, let it not be mute concerning His gifts. If thou speakest to thyself, unto…
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On Psalms 97:5–6Saint Augustine of Hippo5. “Make melody unto the Lord upon the harp: on the harp and with the voice of a Psalm” (ver. 5). Praise Him not with the voice only; take up works, that ye may not only sing, but work also. He who singeth and worketh, maketh melody with psaltery and upon the harp. Now see what sort of instruments are next spoken of, in figure: “With ductile trumpets also, and the sound of the pipe of horn” (ver. 6). What are…
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On Psalms 97:7–8Saint Augustine of Hippo7. While ye are rejoicing, and delighted with the ductile trumpets, and the voice of the horn, what followeth? “Let the sea be stirred up, and the fulness thereof” (ver. 7). Brethren, when the Apostles, like ductile trumpets and horns, were preaching the truth, the sea was stirred up, its waves arose, tempests increased, persecutions of the Church took place. Whence hath the sea been stirred up? When a joyful…
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On Psalms 97:9Open Psalms 97 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint Augustine of Hippo8. “Before the Lord, for He is come; for He is come to judge the earth” (ver. 9). “The hills” signify the great. The Lord cometh to judge the earth, and they rejoice. But there are hills, who, when the Lord is coming to judge the earth, shall tremble. There are therefore good and evil hills; the good hills, are spiritual greatness; the bad hills, are the swelling of pride. “Let the hills be joyful together before…
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