Psalms 33

^1-2-3Good people, cheer God !

Right-living people sound best when praising.

Use guitars to reinforce your Hallelujahs!

Play his praise on a grand piano!

Compose your own new song to him;

give him a trumpet fanfare.

^4-5For God ’s Word is solid to the core;

everything he makes is sound inside and out.

He loves it when everything fits,

when his world is in plumb-line true.

Earth is drenched

in God ’s affectionate satisfaction.

^6-7The skies were made by God ’s command;

he breathed the word and the stars popped out.

He scooped Sea into his jug,

put Ocean in his keg.

^8-9Earth-creatures, bow before God ;

world-dwellers—down on your knees!

Here’s why: he spoke and there it was,

in place the moment he said so.

^10-11-12God takes the wind out of Babel pretense,

he shoots down the world’s power-schemes.

God ’s plan for the world stands up,

all his designs are made to last.

Blessed is the country with God for God;

blessed are the people he’s put in his will.

^13-14-15From high in the skies God looks around,

he sees all Adam’s brood.

From where he sits

he overlooks all us earth-dwellers.

He has shaped each person in turn;

now he watches everything we do.

^16-17No king succeeds with a big army alone,

no warrior wins by brute strength.

Horsepower is not the answer;

no one gets by on muscle alone.

^18-19Watch this: God’s eye is on those who respect him,

the ones who are looking for his love.

He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times;

in lean times he keeps body and soul together.

^20-21-22We’re depending on God ;

he’s everything we need.

What’s more, our hearts brim with joy

since we’ve taken for our own his holy name.

Love us, God , with all you’ve got—

that’s what we’re depending on.