Let the heavens be joyful, and the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Let them say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns!”
- KJV Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.
- BSB Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice. Let them say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns!’
- NKJV Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
- NLT Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Let heaven and earth rejoice, and let the nations declare, The Lord reigns. All creation is called to celebrate God's kingship.
Overview
The psalm summons heaven, earth, and the nations to joy at the proclamation that the Lord reigns. God's kingship is cause for cosmic celebration. This announcement that the Lord reigns anticipates the gospel proclamation of God's kingdom come in Christ, who reigns as King over all.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Ps 96:10Say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns.” The world is also established. It can’t be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.
- Ps 97:1Yahweh reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad!
- Ps 99:1Yahweh reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He sits enthroned among the cherubim. Let the earth be moved.
- Rev 19:6I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!
- Ps 93:1–2Yahweh reigns! He is clothed with majesty! Yahweh is armed with strength. The world also is established. It can’t be moved.
- Isa 49:13Sing, heavens; and be joyful, earth; and break out into singing, mountains: for Yahweh has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his afflicted.
- Ps 98:4Make a joyful noise to Yahweh, all the earth! Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!
- Isa 44:23Sing, you heavens, for Yahweh has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth! Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees, for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel.
- Ps 89:5The heavens will praise your wonders, Yahweh; your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
- Ps 145:1A praise psalm by David. I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever.
- Matt 6:13Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
- Isa 33:22For Yahweh is our judge. Yahweh is our lawgiver. Yahweh is our king. He will save us.
- Luke 2:13–14Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,
- Luke 15:10Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”
- Luke 2:10The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.
- Ps 19:1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork.
- Ps 148:1–4Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh from the heavens! Praise him in the heights!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.
How 1 Chronicles 16:31 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.