Psalms 97King James Version
The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice. Clouds and darkness are round about him. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice. Clouds and darkness surround him; fire goes before him; the hills melt like wax at his presence. The heavens declare his righteousness; all people see his glory. Those who serve idols are confounded. Zion heard and was glad. The LORD is exalted above all gods. Light is sown for the righteous; gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
The terrifying manifestation of divine power that melts mountains and confounds idol-worshippers is simultaneously the source of light and gladness for those who are righteous.
verse: "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart." Sown: not immediately visible, but planted, germinating, inevitable in harvest.
No superscription. Enthronement psalm sequence. The theophanic description (vv2-5) is among the most powerful in the Psalter, drawing on Sinai tradition. The progression from cosmic terror to Zion's joy to personal gladness makes it a structurally complete movement from public manifestation to private experience.
The LORD as the enthroned king revealed in fire and lightning; Zion and the daughters of Judah as those who rejoice; idol-worshippers as the confounded; the righteous and upright in heart as the beneficiaries.
Psalm 97 develops the theophanic imagery of Psalm 18 and Sinai (Deut 33) into an enthronement declaration. The light-sowing metaphor (v11) anticipates the 'light of the world' theology and was used in early Christian hymns. The confounding of idol-worshippers was read by Paul as part of the missionary sequence in Romans 10.
For when the holy things seem absent and darkness dominant. The psalm says light is sown; it has been planted in the ground; it will grow.
1The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
2Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
3A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
4His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
5The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
7Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
8Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
9For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
10Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.