Psalms 67:4

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples justly and lead the nations of the earth. Selah

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist issues a communal command for the nations to rejoice, addressing God as the just judge who governs the earth. The surrounding verses frame this as a liturgical moment where all peoples are called to praise.

The words — יִשְׂמְח֥וּ (yis.me.Chu) translates as "may they rejoice" and תִשְׁפּ֣ט (tish.Pot) as "you judge." These verbs tie the command for joy directly to God's administration of uprightness (מִישׁ֑וֹר) over the peoples.

The thread — The psalmist connects national rejoicing to divine justice, mirroring the judgment themes in Psalms 9:8 and Psalms 98:9. Romans 15:10 later applies this rejoicing to Gentiles in response to God's work.

Why it lands — The text requires joy to be a direct response to the recognition of God's equitable rule over all nations. It asks the reader to ground their praise in the reality of divine justice rather than personal circumstance.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

יִֽשְׂמְח֥וּyis.me.Chumay they rejoice וִֽירַנְּנ֗וּvi./ra.ne.Nuand/ they may sing for joy לְאֻ֫מִּ֥יםle.'U.Mimnations כִּֽי־ki-for תִשְׁפֹּ֣טtish.Potyou judge עַמִּ֣ים'a.Mimpeoples מִישׁ֑וֹרmi.Shoruprightness וּלְאֻמִּ֓ים׀u./le.'u.Mimand/ nations בָּאָ֖רֶץba./'A.retzon the/ earth תַּנְחֵ֣םtan.Che/myou guide/ them סֶֽלָה׃Se.lahSelah

King James Version

O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.

Cross-references

Psalms 98:9 before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.
Romans 15:10 Again, it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”
Psalms 9:8 He judges the world with justice; He governs the people with equity.
Isaiah 42:10 Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise from the ends of the earth—you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who dwell in them.
Psalms 82:6 I have said, ‘You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.’
Psalms 138:4 All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.
Isaiah 24:14 They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they proclaim the majesty of the LORD.
Genesis 18:25 Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
Deuteronomy 32:43 Rejoice, O heavens, with Him, and let all God’s angels worship Him. Rejoice, O nations, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His children. He will take vengeance on His adversaries and repay those who hate Him; He will cleanse His land and His people.
Psalms 2:8 Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.