Psalm 66 (65)
Thanksgiving after a struggle. The leader of the community is at the head of the procession: he thanks God who has freed his people of their trials.
14 Shout with joy to God, all you on earth;
2 sing to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
3 Say to God, “How great are your deeds!
How formidable your power
that makes your enemies cower!
4 All the earth bows down to you,
making music in praise of you,
singing in honor of your name.”
5 Come and see God’s wonders,
his deeds awesome for humans.
6 He has turned the sea into dry land,
and the river was crossed on foot.
Let us, therefore, rejoice in him.
7 He rules by his might forever,
his eyes keeping watch on the peoples,
his arm holding the rebels in check.
8 Praise our God, O nations,
let the sound of his praise be heard,
9 for he has preserved us among the living
and kept our feet from stumbling.
10 Why did you test us, O God;
and refine us like silver?
11 You let us fall into the snare;
you burdened us with disgrace.
12 You allowed a nobody to rule over us,
and we have gone through fire and water,
but you have brought us to safety at last.
13 I will bring offerings to your house
in fulfillment of my vows –
14 Those I made when assailed with troubles.
15 I will offer holocausts of fatlings,
sending up smoke of burning rams,
and a sacrifice of goats and bulls.
16 All you who fear God, come and listen;
let me tell you what he has done.
17 I cried aloud to him,
extolling him with my tongue.
18 If I had nurtured wickedness in my heart,
then he would not have heard.
19 But God has listened;
he gave heed to my prayer.
20 May God be blessed!
He has not rejected my prayer;
nor withheld his love from me.