Psalms 98:9 · Clearspring

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Other translations

WEBBE

Let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

BSB

before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.

KJV

Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

ASV

Before Jehovah; for he cometh to judge the earth: He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with equity.

BBE

Before the Lord, for he has come as judge of the earth; judging the world in righteousness, and giving true decisions for the peoples.

Original Hebrew

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לִפְנֵי־ lif·nei- (to) before H6440 יְהוָה yah·weh Yahweh H3068 כִּי ki for H3588 בָא va' [he is] coming H935 לִשְׁפֹּט lish·pot to judge H8199 הָאָרֶץ ha·'a·retz the earth H776 יִשְׁפֹּט־ yish·pot- he will judge H8199 תֵּבֵל te·vel [the] world H8398 בְּצֶדֶק be·tze·dek with righteousness H6664 וְעַמִּים ve·'a·mim and peoples H5971 בְּמֵישָׁרִים be·mei·sha·rim with uprightness(es) H4339

The early church

"Before the Lord, for He has come; for He has come to judge the earth" [Psalm 98:9]. "The hills" signify the great. The Lord comes 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 the Lord, for He has come; for He has come to judge the earth." Wherefore shall He come, and how shall He come? "With righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity" [Psalm 98:10]. Let the hills therefore rejoice; for He shall not judge unrighteously. When some man is coming as a judge, to whom the conscience cannot lie open, even innocent men may tremble, if from him they expect a reward for virtue, or fear the penalty of condemnation; when He shall come who cannot be deceived, let the hills rejoice, let them rejoice fearlessly; they shall be enlightened by Him, not condemned; let them rejoice, because the Lord will come to judge the world with equity; and if the righteous hills rejoice, let the unrighteous tremble. But behold, He has not yet come: what need is there they should tremble? Let them mend their ways, and rejoice. It is in your power in what way you will to await the coming of Christ. For this reason He delays to come, that when He comes He may not condemn you. Lo, He has not yet come: He is in heaven, thou on earth: He delays His coming, do not thou delay wisdom. His coming is hard to the hard of heart, soft to the pious. See therefore even now what you are: if hard of heart, you can soften; if you are soft, even now rejoice that He will come. For you are a Christian. Yea, you say, I believe that you pray, and sayest, "Your kingdom come." [Matthew 6:10] You desire Him to come, whose coming you fear. Reform yourself, that you may not pray against yourself.

Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Expositions on the Psalms

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 4–9

Let all the children of men rejoice in the setting up the kingdom of Christ, for all may benefit by it. The different orders of rational creatures in the universe, seem to be described in figurative language in the reign of the great Messiah. The kingdom of Christ will be a blessing to the whole creation. We expect his second coming to begin his glorious reign. Then shall heaven and earth rejoice, and the joy of the redeemed shall be full. But sin and its dreadful effects will not be utterly done away, till the Lord come to judge the world in righteousness. Seeing then that we look for such things, let us give diligence that we may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Read Matthew Henry on Psalm 98 →

Spurgeon · Verse 9

Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth. Stiller music such as made the stars twinkle with their soft kind eyes suited his first coming at Bethlehem, but his second advent calls for trumpets, for he is a judge; and for all earth's acclamations, for he has put on his royal splendour. The rule of Christ is the joy of nature. All things bless his throne, yea, and the very coming of it. As the dawn sets the earth weeping for joy at the rising of the sun, till the dewdrops stand in her eyes, so should the approach of Jesus' universal reign make all creation glad. With righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. This is the joy of it. No tyrant and no weakling is he, to oppress the good or to indulge the vain, his law is good, his action right, his government the embodiment of justice. If ever there was a thing to rejoice in upon this poor, travailing earth, it is the coming of such a deliverer, the ascension to the universal throne of such a governor. All hail, Jesus! all hail! Our soul faints with delight at the sound of thins approaching chariots, and can only cry, "Come quickly. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!" Keble's version of the last four verses is so truly beautiful that we cannot deny our readers the luxury of perusing it:

"Ring out, with horn and trumpet ring,

In shouts before the Lord the King:

Let ocean with his fulness swing

In restless unison:"

"Earth's round and all the dwellers there,

The mighty floods the burden bear,

And clap the hand: in choral air,

Join every mountain lone."

"Tell out before the Lord, that he

Is come, the Judge of earth to be,

To judge the world in equity,

Do right to realm and throne."

Read Spurgeon on Psalm 98 →

Cross-references

11

Topics

God Judgment