66  For the musical director: a song.

1 Shout happily to God you people all over the world.

2 Sing about his incredible reputation.

≈ Make your praise of him sound great.

3 Tell God, “It’s awesome what you do.

Your incredible power causes your enemies to cower.

4 The whole world will bow down to you.

They’ll sing to praise you and your reputation.” (Instrumental break.)

5 Come and see what God’s done.

His activities among humanity are awesome.

6 He turned the sea into dry land.[ref]

≈ They walked through the river on foot.[ref]

Let’s keep celebrating what he did there.

7 He rules forever with his strength.

His eyes keep watch on the nations.

Don’t let rebellious people pat themselves on the back. (Instrumental break.)

8 Be a blessing to God, you people groups.

Let the sounds of praising him be heard.

9 He maintains us among the living,

≈ and doesn’t allow our feet to slip.

10 For you, God, have tested us.

≈ You’ve purified us like refined silver.

11 You led us like fish into a net.

≈ You made us carry a heavy load on our backs.

12 You let enemy horsemen ride over our heads.

We went through fire and through water,

but you brought us out to a wide-open place.

13 I will enter your temple with burnt offerings.

≈ I will give the amount that I promised

14 with my own lips—

that vow that I made when I was in a predicament.

15 I’ll offer burnt offerings of fattened animals to you

with the sweet aroma of rams.

I will offer bulls and goats. (Instrumental break.)

16 All of you who respect God, come and listen

and I’ll tell you about what he’s done for me.

17 I called out to him for help with my mouth,

≈ then I praised him with my tongue.

18 If I had considered doing evil,

my master wouldn’t have listened to me.

19 Nevertheless God listened to me.

≈ He paid attention to my prayers.

20 God deserves praise—he hasn’t turned away from my prayer

or withheld his loyal commitment to me.