For by his great power he rules forever. He watches every movement of the nations; let no rebel rise in defiance. Interlude
Parallel translations
- WEB He rules by his might forever. His eyes watch the nations. Don’t let the rebellious rise up against him. Selah.
- KJV He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
- BSB He rules forever by His power; His eyes watch the nations. Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
- NKJV He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
- NASB He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; The rebellious shall not exalt themselves! Selah
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
God rules forever by His might, watching the nations, and the rebellious should not exalt themselves. It declares God's eternal, watchful sovereignty.
Overview
The psalmist affirms God's everlasting rule and His eyes that keep watch over the nations, warning the rebellious not to rise up. God's sovereignty is both comforting and sobering, marked again by 'Selah.' His reign is established forever in the kingdom of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Ps 11:4Yahweh is in his holy temple. Yahweh is on his throne in heaven. His eyes observe. His eyes examine the children of men.
- Matt 28:18Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
- 2 Chr 16:9For Yahweh’s eyes run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars.”
- Ps 75:4–5I said to the arrogant, “Don’t boast!” I said to the wicked, “Don’t lift up the horn.
- Ps 33:13Yahweh looks from heaven. He sees all the sons of men.
- Ps 140:8Yahweh, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah.
- Ps 62:11God has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God.
- Job 9:4God who is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and prospered?
- Dan 5:20–28But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
- Dan 4:35All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can stop his hand, or ask him, What are you doing?
- 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 10:7–16However he doesn’t mean so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off not a few nations.
- Isa 37:28–29But I know your sitting down, your going out, your coming in, and your raging against me.
- Dan 6:26–27I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even to the end.
- Ps 52:1–5For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, “David has come to Ahimelech’s house.” Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God’s loving kindness endures continually.
- Ps 2:10–12Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
- Ps 73:3–12For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Ps 145:13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Yahweh is faithful in all his words, and loving in all his deeds.
- Exod 18:11Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods because of the thing in which they dealt arrogantly against them.”
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 66:7 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.