The big picture
Psalms 66 opens in verse 1 with “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:”, reaches its middle movement near verse 10 with “For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.”, and closes in verse 20 with “Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.” Repeated or prominent terms include Selah, sing, broughtest, burnt, hear. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 20Psalms 66:1-7
1–7: Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
Psalms 66:1–7 opens with “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:” and reaches “He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 66 develops its own movement around Selah, sing, broughtest, burnt, hear, with particular weight carried by sing, name, power.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:” Naming Make keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.” Naming Sing keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 66:1-7
King James Version1Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
2Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.
3Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.
4All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.
5Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
6He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.
7He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
Psalms 66:8-14
8–14: O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be…
Psalms 66:8–14 opens with “O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:” and reaches “Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 66 develops its own movement around Selah, sing, broughtest, burnt, hear, with particular weight carried by broughtest, tried, affliction.
Context that brings the passage to life
“O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.
Psalms 66:8-14
King James Version8O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
9Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
10For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
11Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
12Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
13I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,
14Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.
Psalms 66:15-20
15–20: I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of…
Psalms 66:15–20 opens with “I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer…” and reaches “Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 66 develops its own movement around Selah, sing, broughtest, burnt, hear, with particular weight carried by hear, offer, prayer.
Context that brings the passage to life
“I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats…” Naming Selah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 66:15-20
King James Version15I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.
16Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
17I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
18If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
19But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
20Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 66:1 begins with “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 66:19 forms a natural hinge: “But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.”
The final note
Psalms 66:20 leaves the reader with “Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Selah, sing, broughtest, burnt, hear, mouth help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.