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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Psalm 96

Psalm 96 is read especially through the theme of praise, within Book IV (Psalms 90–106). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.

PraiseCreationKingship
Psalms overview
Old Testament

Psalm 96

1Sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth.

2Sing to the LORD! Bless his name! Proclaim his salvation from day to day!

3Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.

4For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised! He is to be feared above all gods.

5For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.

6Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7Ascribe to the LORD, you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

8Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come into his courts.

9Worship the LORD in holy array. Tremble before him, all the earth.

10Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is also established. It can’t be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.

11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness!

12Let the field and all that is in it exult! Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy

13before the LORD; for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with his truth.

READ IN CONTEXT

Understanding Psalm 96

Psalm 96 is read especially through the theme of praise, within Book IV (Psalms 90–106). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application. Read it within the complete five-book Psalms collection, then compare its prayer language with the types of prayer found across Scripture. Classification is a reading aid rather than a replacement for the Psalm's own movement and tension.

Collection

Book IV (Psalms 90–106). The five-book shape of the Psalter helps readers hear individual prayers within a deliberately arranged collection.

Themes detected

Praise, Creation, Kingship. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Psalm 96

Psalm 96 contains 13 verses and about 217 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “Sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 13 closes: “before the LORD; for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with his truth.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include sing, earth, peoples, glory, nations, ascribe. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Psalm 96

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Psalms 96:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

What kind of Psalm is this?+

Our reading profile emphasizes praise, with related themes of Praise, Creation, Kingship. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.

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