Christianity

Psalms 33Sing a New Song

Summary

Psalm 33 calls the righteous to praise God with harp and a new song. It celebrates the word of the LORD that made the heavens and gathered the seas, and God's counsel that stands forever while the plans of nations fail. God watches all humanity from heaven; no king is saved by the size of his army. The psalm ends with the soul waiting on the LORD in hope. It has no heading and is recited in Sabbath morning prayers.

Key verse

“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.”

Psalms 33:6

Themes

Creation by the Word
God's Sovereignty
Hope
Praise

Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.

From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Islam
Surah Yaseen (36): Be, and It Is
Quran 36:82 says that when God wills a thing he only says Be, and it is. Psalm 33:9 states the same idea: he spake, and it was done.
Judaism
Tehillim 33 in the JPS 1917 Tanakh
Jews recite this psalm in the Sabbath and festival morning service, as part of the additional psalms of praise.
Christianity
John 1: All Things Were Made by Him
John's prologue echoes the theme of Psalm 33:6, creation through God's word, and identifies that Word with Christ.

Questions about Psalms 33

What does sing unto him a new song mean?

Psalm 33:3 calls for fresh praise that answers new acts of God. The phrase recurs in Psalms 96, 98, 144 and 149 and in Revelation 5:9.

Why does Psalm 33 have no heading?

It is one of the few psalms in Book One without a title, and some ancient manuscripts join it to Psalm 32, whose last verse also calls the righteous to rejoice.