Read Psalms 96 in the King James Bible (opens in a new tab)
Psalm 96 calls the whole earth to sing a new song to the LORD, proclaiming His salvation and declaring His glory among the nations. It exposes the emptiness of idols and lifts up the LORD as the true Creator who deserves fear, honor, and worship. The psalm urges God’s people not to keep the message private but to publish His deeds “day unto day,” inviting the nations to ascribe glory to His name and bring an offering in reverent worship. It also announces that the LORD is coming to judge the earth with righteousness and truth—good news for a broken world because His judgment is just. The closing vision is cosmic praise: heavens, earth, sea, fields, and forests rejoicing because the righteous King draws near.
Psalms 96:1 - 96:13
1 O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
4 For the Lord [is] great, and greatly to be praised: he [is] to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations [are] idols: but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Honour and majesty [are] before him: strength and beauty [are] in his sanctuary.
7 Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
8 Give unto the Lord the glory [due unto] his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the heathen [that] the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that [is] therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
13 Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.