Psalms 97 (DBY)

Chapter Text

97:1 Jehovah reigneth: let the earth be glad, let the many isles rejoice.

97:2 Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the foundation of his throne.

97:3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his adversaries round about.

97:4 His lightnings lightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.

97:5 The mountains melted like wax at the presence of Jehovah, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

97:6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.

97:7 Ashamed be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols. Worship him, all ye gods.

97:8 Zion heard, and rejoiced; and the daughters of Judah were glad, because of thy judgments, O Jehovah.

97:9 For thou, Jehovah, art the Most High above all the earth; thou art exalted exceedingly above all gods.

97:10 Ye that love Jehovah, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints, he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

97:11 Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

97:12 Rejoice in Jehovah, ye righteous; and give thanks in remembrance of his holiness.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "world", "light", "darkness", "jehovah", "reigneth", "earth", "glad", and "isles". It is saying that the contrast between light and darkness marks a real divide in how people respond to God's work.

The local DBY text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "world" and "light" carries the first interpretive weight. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "world" and "light" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.