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Psalms 117

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Call to Universal Praise 1–2

1
O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. ​
2
For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Psalm 117

Verse 1

all ye nations — Goyim is the Gentile nations, and ummah, ‘people’, is a rare word found elsewhere only of the tribes of Ishmael (Gen 25:16) and of Midian (Num 25:15). Paul quotes the verse among his proofs that ‘the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy’: ‘Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people’ (Rom 15:9–11). ‘Praise’ (shabach) is to speak out loud.

Verse 2

his merciful kindness is great toward us — Gabar, ‘great’, is to prevail, the verb used of the flood waters that ‘prevailed exceedingly upon the earth’ (Gen 7:19); Ps 103:11 uses it of mercy, ‘so great is his mercy toward them that fear him’. Chesed is covenant love, and emeth is truth that holds firm. The psalm ends, as Ps 116 does, with Hallelu-Yah.