Psalms 98King James Version
O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together.
A new song for God's marvellous things. His right hand and holy arm have won the victory. He has made his salvation known; his righteousness shown in the sight of the nations. Make a joyful noise, all the earth; sing, play the harp and trumpets and cornet. Let the sea roar and the hills be joyful together before the LORD who comes to judge the earth with righteousness and equity. Pure celebration, nothing withheld.
The victory that God has already won in history is the premise for the song that the whole earth is commanded to sing, with every instrument available and creation joining in.
verse: "O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory." The new song has a specific, historical basis: 'he hath done marvellous things.'
Superscription: 'A Psalm.' One of only two psalms with this minimal superscription (the other is 100). The simplest designation in the Psalter may indicate liturgical breadth: not for a specific occasion but for general use. Book 4.
The psalmist as the caller to worship; all the earth addressed; God as the victor; Israel as the one to whom his mercy was remembered; the nations as witnesses; sea, floods, hills as participating creation.
Psalm 98 parallels Psalm 96 and shares the 'new song' motif. Its explicit connection to God's right hand and arm echoes Exodus imagery of the Reed Sea crossing. The full orchestral and creation-choir vision (vv4-9) influenced Christian doxological traditions, including Handel's 'For unto us a Child is Born' in Messiah, which draws on its eschatological frame.
For the moments of pure praise when there is no lament needed, no petition, just the full-throated acknowledgment of what God has done. This is the psalm for those moments.
1[A Psalm.] O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
2The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
3He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
5Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
6With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.
7Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
8Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
9Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.