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Psalm 96

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This article is aboutPsalm 96in Hebrew (Masoretic) numbering. ForPsalm 96in Greek Septuagint or Latin Vulgate numbering, seePsalm 97.

Psalm 96
"Sing a new song unto the Lord"
Royal psalm
Beginning ofCantate Dominoin theHours of Mary of Burgundy,1477
Other name
  • "Cantate Domino"
  • "Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied"
  • "Cantate Domino canticum novum"
Related
LanguageHebrew (original)
Psalm 96
Beginning of Psalm 96 in German at a church inFeldkirchen in Kärnten,Austria
BookBook of Psalms
Hebrew Bible partKetuvim
Order in the Hebrew part1
CategorySifrei Emet
Christian Bible partOld Testament
Order in the Christian part19

Psalm 96is the 96th psalm of theBook of Psalms,ahymn.The first verse of the psalm calls to praise in singing, in English in theKing James Version:"O sing a new song unto the Lord". Similar toPsalm 98( "Cantate Domino" ) andPsalm 149,the psalm calls to praise God in music and dance, because he has chosen his people and helped them to victory. It is one of theroyal psalmspraising God as the King of His people.

In the slightly different numbering system used by the GreekSeptuagintand the LatinVulgate,this psalm isPsalm 95.In Latin, it is known as "Cantate Domino canticum novum".[1]

The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglicanliturgies.The Latin conclusion, "Laetentur caeli",is used during the Christmas night liturgy. The psalm or verses of it have been paraphrased to hymns, and it has often been set to music, notably byHandelin hisChandos Anthems,byMendelssohnwho quoted from it in a movement of his choral symphonyLobgesang,andZoltán Gárdonyias part of three motets.

Incipit:"O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth." (KJV; in Hebrewשירו ליהוה שיר חדש שירו ליהוה כל־הארץ).[2][3]

Background and themes[edit]

According toRadak,this psalm was composed byDavidwhen he brought theArk of the Covenantup to Jerusalem. On this day, David composed two songs –Hodu,and "Sing to the Lord, the entire earth" (verse 2 of this psalm, which is also recorded in1 Chronicles 16:23). As recounted in1 Chronicles 16:7,David instructedAsaphand his brothers to sing these songs daily.Hoduwas sung before the Ark every morning, and Psalm 96 was sung before the Ark every afternoon, until the time theTemplewas constructed and the Ark was moved into it.[4]However,Alexander Kirkpatrickassociates the "newness" of the song with the deliverance of Israel fromBabylonian captivity,inaugurating "a new stage in the nation’s history".[5]He notes that the Septuagint's title for this psalm is "When the house was being built after the Captivity".[5]

In Hebrew, this psalm is known asShiru Lashem( "Sing to the Lord" ), and repeats the word "sing" three times. According to theMidrash Tehillim,these three instances allude to the three daily prayer services "when Israel sings praises to God". They are:Shacharit,the morning prayer, corresponding to "Sing a new song to the Lord" (verse 1);Mincha,the afternoon prayer, corresponding to "Sing to the Lord, all the earth" (verse 1); andMaariv,the evening prayer, corresponding to "Sing to the Lord, bless His Name" (verse 2).[6][7]

In Baptist ministerCharles Spurgeon's assessment, Psalm 96 is a "missionary hymn".[8]It is specifically paired withPsalm 95,which described "Israel's hard-heartedness" toward God in the desert. Christian scholars assert that Israel employed that same hard-heartedness to reject Jesus as the Messiah, so now the Christians have the task of declaringthe gospelto the world.[8][9]Matthew Henryinterprets verses 10 to 13 in this psalm as instructions of what to say for those who preach the gospel.[10]

Biblical scholars note numerous thematic and structural similarities between Psalm 96 andPsalm 97,which are both "Kingship of YHWH" psalms.[11]

Text[edit]

Hebrew[edit]

The following table shows the Hebrew text[12][13]of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon theJPS 1917translation (now in thepublic domain).

Verse Hebrew English translation (JPS 1917)
1 שִׁ֣ירוּ לַ֭יהֹוָה שִׁ֣יר חָדָ֑שׁ שִׁ֥ירוּ לַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃‎ O sing unto the LORD a new song; Sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
2 שִׁ֣ירוּ לַ֭יהֹוָה בָּרְכ֣וּ שְׁמ֑וֹ בַּשְּׂר֥וּ מִיּֽוֹם־לְ֝י֗וֹם יְשׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃‎ Sing unto the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim His salvation from day to day.
3 סַפְּר֣וּ בַגּוֹיִ֣ם כְּבוֹד֑וֹ בְּכׇל־הָ֝עַמִּ֗ים נִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃‎ Declare His glory among the nations, His marvellous works among all the peoples.
4 כִּ֥י גָ֘ד֤וֹל יְהֹוָ֣ה וּמְהֻלָּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד נוֹרָ֥א ה֝֗וּא עַל־כׇּל־אֱלֹהִֽים׃‎ For great is the LORD, and highly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods..
5 כִּ֤י ׀ כׇּל־אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָעַמִּ֣ים אֱלִילִ֑ים וַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם עָשָֽׂה׃‎ For all the gods of the peoples are things of nought; But the LORD made the heavens.
6 הוֹד־וְהָדָ֥ר לְפָנָ֑יו עֹ֥ז וְ֝תִפְאֶ֗רֶת בְּמִקְדָּשֽׁוֹ׃‎ Honour and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
7 הָב֣וּ לַ֭יהֹוָה מִשְׁפְּח֣וֹת עַמִּ֑ים הָב֥וּ לַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה כָּב֥וֹד וָעֹֽז׃‎ Ascribe unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the peoples, Ascribe unto the LORD glory and strength.
8 הָב֣וּ לַ֭יהֹוָה כְּב֣וֹד שְׁמ֑וֹ שְׂאֽוּ־מִ֝נְחָ֗ה וּבֹ֥אוּ לְחַצְרוֹתָֽיו׃‎ Ascribe unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts.
9 הִשְׁתַּחֲו֣וּ לַ֭יהֹוָה בְּהַדְרַת־קֹ֑דֶשׁ חִ֥ילוּ מִ֝פָּנָ֗יו כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃‎ O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; Tremble before Him, all the earth.
10 אִמְר֤וּ בַגּוֹיִ֨ם ׀ יְ֘הֹוָ֤ה מָלָ֗ךְ אַף־תִּכּ֣וֹן תֵּ֭בֵל בַּל־תִּמּ֑וֹט יָדִ֥ין עַ֝מִּ֗ים בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃‎ Say among the nations: 'The LORD reigneth.' The world also is established that it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.
11 יִשְׂמְח֣וּ הַ֭שָּׁמַיִם וְתָגֵ֣ל הָאָ֑רֶץ יִֽרְעַ֥ם הַ֝יָּ֗ם וּמְלֹאֽוֹ׃‎ Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof;
12 יַעֲלֹ֣ז שָׂ֭דַי וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־בּ֑וֹ אָ֥ז יְ֝רַנְּנ֗וּ כׇּל־עֲצֵי־יָֽעַר׃‎ Let the field exult; and all that is therein; Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy;
13 לִפְנֵ֤י יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ כִּ֬י בָ֗א כִּ֥י בָא֮ לִשְׁפֹּ֢ט הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ יִשְׁפֹּֽט־תֵּבֵ֥ל בְּצֶ֑דֶק וְ֝עַמִּ֗ים בֶּאֱמוּנָתֽוֹ׃‎ Before the LORD, for He is come; For He is come to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples in His faithfulness.

King James Version[edit]

  1. O sing unto the LORDa 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 LORDis 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 LORDmade 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 LORDglory and strength.
  8. Give unto the LORDthe glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
  9. O worship the LORDin the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
  10. Say among the heathen that the LORDreigneth: 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.

Textual witnesses[edit]

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter inHebreware of theMasoretic Texttradition, which includes theAleppo Codex(10th century), andCodex Leningradensis(1008).[14]

The extantpalimpsestAqTaylorincludes a translation intoKoine GreekbyAquila of Sinopein about 130 CE, containing verses 7–13.[15]

Verse 1[edit]

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.[16]

These words match those of the prophetIsaiahinIsaiah 42:10.[5]

Uses[edit]

Judaism[edit]

Psalm 96 is the second of six psalms recited during theKabbalat Shabbat(Welcoming theShabbat) service in Ashkenazic, Hasidic and some Sephardic communities..[17]These six psalms represent the six days of the week, with Psalm 96 corresponding to the second day of the week (Monday).[18]

Verses 4 and 9 are part ofSelichot.[19]

Psalm 96 is recited to increase joy among family members.[20]

Catholicism[edit]

The final three verses in Latin, "Laetentur caeli", comprise theoffertoryantiphon used in theMassDuring the Night forthe Nativity of the Lord.[21]

Musical settings[edit]

Calling to sing, Psalm 96 has been paraphrased in hymns, and often set to music. "Laetentur caeli" (vv. 11–13 of the Psalm) was set byOrlande de Lassusfor four parts,[22]and byGiovanni Bassanofor double choir,[23]among others.[24]Handelset the psalm around 1712,[25]and a movement of hisChandos Anthemsin 1717 or 1718.[26]German settings of the Baroque era:

In the 19th century,Mendelssohnquoted from Psalm 96 in movement 10 of his choral symphonyLobgesangon biblical texts in 1810. Czech composerAntonín Dvořákquoted the psalm, combined with verses ofPsalm 98,in the final movement of hisBiblical Songsof 1894.[33]

In the 20th century,Zoltán Gárdonyiset Psalm 96 as part of threemotetsin German, "Singet dem Herren", for mixed choira cappella,along with a Finnish song andPsalm 23,published bySchott.[34]James MacMillanwrote "A New Song" in 1997, with lyrics taken from this Psalm.[35]

Hymns referring to the psalm include the 1901 "This Is My Father's World",and" Sing to the Lord a new made song ".[36]Music inspired by the psalm also includes agospel bluesbyBlind Willie Johnson,"Church, I'm Fully Saved To-Day",[37]based on the hymn "Fully Saved Today".[38]

References[edit]

  1. ^Parallel Latin/English Psalter,Psalmus 95 (96).Archived2017-05-07 at theWayback MachineMedievalist.
  2. ^"Psalm 96:1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth".biblehub.com.
  3. ^"TanakhML Project. Text Browser. BHS".www.tanakhml.org.
  4. ^Rubin 2005,p. 284.
  5. ^abcKirkpatrick, A. (1906),Cambridge Bible for Schools and Collegeson Psalm 96, accessed 20 April 2022
  6. ^Nulman 1996,p. 307.
  7. ^"Midrash Tehillim / Psalms 96"(PDF).matsati.com.Retrieved6 January2019.
  8. ^ab"Charles H. Spurgeon's Treasury of David".Christianity.com. 2019.Retrieved7 January2018.
  9. ^Cole, Steven J. (2009)."Psalm 96: Worshiping, Witnessing, Waiting".bible.org.Retrieved7 January2018.
  10. ^Henry, Matthew(2019)."Matthew Henry Bible Commentary".Christianity.com.Retrieved7 January2018.
  11. ^Howard 1997,pp. 141–4.
  12. ^"Psalms – Chapter 96".Mechon Mamre.
  13. ^"Psalms 96 - JPS 1917".Sefaria.org.
  14. ^*Würthwein, Ernst(1995).The Text of the Old Testament.Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI:William B. Eerdmans.pp. 35–37.ISBN0-8028-0788-7.Retrieved26 January2019.
  15. ^*Schürer, Emil; Vermes, Geza; Millar, Fergus (2014).The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ: Volume 3.i.A&C Black. p. 497.ISBN9780567604521.
  16. ^Psalm 96:1:New King James Version
  17. ^Kadden, Bruce; Kadden, Barbara Binder (2004).Teaching Tefilah: Insights and Activities on Prayer.Behrman House. p. 87.ISBN0867050861.
  18. ^Nulman 1996,p. 225.
  19. ^Brauner, Reuven (2013)."Shimush Pesukim: Comprehensive Index to Liturgical and Ceremonial Uses of Biblical Verses and Passages"(PDF)(2nd ed.). p. 44.
  20. ^"Emotions/Fear/Behavior".Daily Tehillim.Archived fromthe originalon 14 December 2018.Retrieved6 January2019.
  21. ^"Gregorian Propers • St. René Goupil Gradual".Corpus Christi Watershed.Retrieved4 February2019.
  22. ^Laetentur coeli (Orlando di Lasso):Free scores at theChoral Public Domain Library(ChoralWiki)
  23. ^Laetentur coeli a 8 (Giovanni Bassano):Free scores at theChoral Public Domain Library(ChoralWiki)
  24. ^Laetentur caeli:Free scores at theChoral Public Domain Library(ChoralWiki)
  25. ^O Sing unto the Lord a New Song, HWV 249a (Handel, George Frideric):Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
  26. ^G. F. Handel: "O Come Let Us Sing Unto the Lord," H. 253 (Chandos Anthem 8)Emmanuel Music
  27. ^Schütz, Heinrich / Der Beckersche Psalter SWV 97a-256aBärenreiter
  28. ^Singet dem Herrn, TWV 1:1748:Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
  29. ^RISM150204809;RISM452014932
  30. ^Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied (Georg Philipp Telemann)in theChoral Public Domain Library(ChoralWiki)
  31. ^Georg Philipp Telemann –Catalogue TWV– 02–15: Cantates diverses – 07. Psaumesatwww.musiqueorguequebec.cawebsite.
  32. ^RISM452513236
  33. ^"Biblical Songs".antonin-dvorak.cz.Retrieved11 September2016.
  34. ^"Three motets".Schott.2011.Retrieved31 August2011.
  35. ^"James MacMillan - A New Song".Boosey & Hawkes.Retrieved23 June2020.
  36. ^Hymns for Psalm 96hymnary.org
  37. ^Wirz, Stefan."Blind Willie Johnson discography".Retrieved10 February2015.
  38. ^"Fully Saved Today".hymnary.org.Retrieved31 January2015.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

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