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Psalms 47

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The nations are exhorted to cheerfully entertain the kingdom of Christ.

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.

1. O CLAP your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

2. For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

3. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

4. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

5. God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.

6. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.

7. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

8. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

9. The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

Metrical version

Psalm 47

C.M. Richmond

All people, clap your hands; to God
with voice of triumph shout:
For dreadful is the LORD most high,
great King the earth throughout.

The heathen people under us
he surely shall subdue;
And he shall make the nations
under our feet to bow.

The lot of our inheritance
choose out for us shall he,
Of Jacob, whom he loved well,
ev'n the excellency.

God is with shouts gone up, the LORD
with trumpets sounding high.
Sing praise to God, sing praise, sing praise,
praise to our King sing ye.

For God is King of all the earth;
with knowledge praise express.
God rules the nations: God sits on
his throne of holiness.

The princes of the people are
assembled willingly;
Ev'n of the God of Abraham
they who the people be.

For why? the shields that do defend
the earth are only his:
They to the Lord belong; yea, he
exalted greatly is.
This psalm was probably composed on the same occasion as the 24th. Here is, (1.) A revenue of praise demanded for God, from all people, Jews and Gentiles, ver. 1, 6. (2.) A memorial of the grounds of praise, viz. the majesty of God's nature, ver. 2; the great things he had done, or would do for his people, in subduing their foes, and providing portions for themselves; and in ascending to heaven, to receive gifts, and prepare places for men, ver. 3-5; as also the high sovereignty and universal extent of his government, ver. 2, 7-9.


While my lips utter this song, let all my inward powers labour in viewing, in loving, in admiring, in extolling my great, my glorious, my ascended, my all-governing, all-doing, and all -giving Lord, Jesus Christ.