Psalm 24 Text

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Simple Reading (Hebrew)
Forthcoming. 		Simple Reading (English)
Forthcoming.
Dramatic Reading (Hebrew)
Forthcoming. 		Dramatic Reading (English)
Forthcoming.

Text Only (Hebrew and English) The text below is divided according to the psalm's poetic lines. For additional information, see our Poetic Structure layer.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Text (CBC)
לְדָוִ֗ד מִ֫זְמ֥וֹר 1a By David, a psalm.
לַֽ֭יהוָה הָאָ֣רֶץ וּמְלוֹאָ֑הּ 1b The earth and its fullness belong to YHWH,
תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל וְיֹ֣שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ 1c the world and the inhabitants in it,
כִּי־ה֭וּא עַל־יַמִּ֣ים יְסָדָ֑הּ 2a because he has founded it upon the sea
וְעַל־נְ֝הָר֗וֹת יְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃ 2b and keeps it established upon the ocean.
מִֽי־יַעֲלֶ֥ה בְהַר־יְהוָ֑ה 3a Who may go up on the mountain of YHWH?
וּמִי־יָ֝קוּם בִּמְק֥וֹם קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃ 3b And who may stand within his holy place?
נְקִ֥י כַפַּ֗יִם וּֽבַר־לֵ֫בָ֥ב 4a One with clean hands and a pure heart,
אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ לֹא־נָשָׂ֣א לַשָּׁ֣וְא נַפְשִׁ֑י 4b who hasn’t delighted in falsehood,
וְלֹ֖א נִשְׁבַּ֣ע לְמִרְמָֽה׃ 4c nor taken an oath deceitfully.
יִשָּׂ֣א בְ֭רָכָה מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה 5a He will receive blessing from YHWH
וּ֝צְדָקָ֗ה מֵאֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעֽוֹ׃ 5b and privilege from the God of his salvation.
זֶ֭ה דּ֣וֹר דֹּרְשָׁ֑יו 6a Such is the generation - those seeking him,
מְבַקְשֵׁ֨י פָנֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃ 6b those who seek your face - of Jacob. Selah.
שְׂא֤וּ שְׁעָרִ֨ים ׀רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֗ם 7a Lift up your heads, gates,
וְֽ֭הִנָּשְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם 7b and be lifted up, eternal doorways,
וְ֝יָב֗וֹא מֶ֣לֶךְ הַכָּבֽוֹד׃ 7c so that the glorious king might enter!
מִ֥י זֶה֮ מֶ֤לֶךְ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד 8a Who is this glorious king?
יְ֭הוָה עִזּ֣וּז וְגִבּ֑וֹר 8b YHWH, a mighty one and a warrior.
יְ֝הוָ֗ה גִּבּ֥וֹר מִלְחָמָֽה׃ 8c YHWH is a battle warrior.
שְׂא֤וּ שְׁעָרִ֨ים ׀רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֗ם 9a Lift up your heads, gates,
וּ֭שְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם 9b and lift up, eternal doorways,
וְ֝יָבֹא מֶ֣לֶךְ הַכָּבֽוֹד׃ 9c so that the glorious king might enter!
מִ֤י ה֣וּא זֶה֮ מֶ֤לֶךְ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד 10a Who is he, this glorious king?
יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֑וֹת ה֤וּא מֶ֖לֶךְ הַכָּב֣וֹד סֶֽלָה׃ 10b YHWH of armies, he is the glorious king. Selah.

Structure Overlay Below, the text has been overlaid with our summary structural analysis. For details on the structure, see the Structure At-a-Glance here.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Text (CBC)
לְדָוִ֗ד מִ֫זְמ֥וֹר 1a By David, a psalm.
לַֽ֭יהוָה הָאָ֣רֶץ וּמְלוֹאָ֑הּ 1b The earth and its fullness belong to YHWH,
תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל וְיֹ֣שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ 1c the world and the inhabitants in it,
כִּי־ה֭וּא עַל־יַמִּ֣ים יְסָדָ֑הּ 2a because he has founded it upon the sea
וְעַל־נְ֝הָר֗וֹת יְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃ 2b and keeps it established upon the ocean.
מִֽי־יַעֲלֶ֥ה בְהַר־יְהוָ֑ה 3a Who may go up on the mountain of YHWH?
וּמִי־יָ֝קוּם בִּמְק֥וֹם קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃ 3b And who may stand within his holy place?
נְקִ֥י כַפַּ֗יִם וּֽבַר־לֵ֫בָ֥ב 4a One with clean hands and a pure heart,
אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ לֹא־נָשָׂ֣א לַשָּׁ֣וְא נַפְשִׁ֑י 4b who hasn’t delighted in falsehood,
וְלֹ֖א נִשְׁבַּ֣ע לְמִרְמָֽה׃ 4c nor taken an oath deceitfully.
יִשָּׂ֣א בְ֭רָכָה מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה 5a He will receive blessing from YHWH
וּ֝צְדָקָ֗ה מֵאֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעֽוֹ׃ 5b and privilege from the God of his salvation.
זֶ֭ה דּ֣וֹר דֹּרְשָׁ֑יו 6a Such is the generation - those seeking him,
מְבַקְשֵׁ֨י פָנֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃ 6b those who seek your face - of Jacob. Selah.
שְׂא֤וּ שְׁעָרִ֨ים ׀רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֗ם 7a Lift up your heads, gates,
וְֽ֭הִנָּשְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם 7b and be lifted up, eternal doorways,
וְ֝יָב֗וֹא מֶ֣לֶךְ הַכָּבֽוֹד׃ 7c so that the glorious king might enter!
מִ֥י זֶה֮ מֶ֤לֶךְ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד 8a Who is this glorious king?
יְ֭הוָה עִזּ֣וּז וְגִבּ֑וֹר 8b YHWH, a mighty one and a warrior.
יְ֝הוָ֗ה גִּבּ֥וֹר מִלְחָמָֽה׃ 8c YHWH is a battle warrior.
שְׂא֤וּ שְׁעָרִ֨ים ׀רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֗ם 9a Lift up your heads, gates,
וּ֭שְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם 9b and lift up, eternal doorways,
וְ֝יָבֹא מֶ֣לֶךְ הַכָּבֽוֹד׃ 9c so that the glorious king might enter!
מִ֤י ה֣וּא זֶה֮ מֶ֤לֶךְ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד 10a Who is he, this glorious king?
יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֑וֹת ה֤וּא מֶ֖לֶךְ הַכָּב֣וֹד סֶֽלָה׃ 10b YHWH of armies, he is the glorious king. Selah.

Expanded paraphrase The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Expanded Paraphrase
לְדָוִ֗ד מִ֫זְמ֥וֹר לַֽ֭יהוָה הָאָ֣רֶץ וּמְלוֹאָ֑הּ תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל וְיֹ֣שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ 1 By David, a psalm. Since YHWH alone created everything The earth and its fullness belong to YHWH, the world and the inhabitants in it, so he doesn't lack anything that we could offer him, nor can we manipulate him as we tried when we brought the ark into battle at Aphek,
כִּי־ה֭וּא עַל־יַמִּ֣ים יְסָדָ֑הּ וְעַל־נְ֝הָר֗וֹת יְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃ 2 because he founded it, the world, upon seas and established it upon oceans, thereby establishing the waters' boundaries and his sovereign authority .
מִֽי־יַעֲלֶ֥ה בְהַר־יְהוָ֑ה וּמִי־יָ֝קוּם בִּמְק֥וֹם קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃ 3 In previous attempts to unite his ark and his temple, however, we have tried to manipulate the ark's presence, and we saw how Hophni, Phineas, the men of Beth-Shemesh and Uzzah suffered the consequences of doing so according to their own understanding. As we now bring the ark into Jerusalem, we are determined to do it rightly this time. So, Who may go up on the mountain of YHWH? And who may stand within his holy place?
נְקִ֥י כַפַּ֗יִם וּֽבַר־לֵ֫בָ֥ב אֲשֶׁ֤ר׀ לֹא־נָשָׂ֣א לַשָּׁ֣וְא *נַפְשׁוֹ* וְלֹ֖א נִשְׁבַּ֣ע לְמִרְמָֽה׃ 4 Unlike the Israelite army who tried to manipulate the ark's presence being carried by Hophni and Phineas, the answer to who may enter his presence is: only One with clean hands and a pure heart, and in contrast to the actions of Hophni and Phineas, who were morally corrupt and unfit for priestly worship of YHWH as they treated their duties with contempt, the answer is: one who hasn't taken delight in falsehood, nor taken an oath deceitfully- falsehood and deceit being euphemisms for idols. So, clean hands and a pure heart represent ethical purity, and rejection of idolatry is part of proper worship.
יִשָּׂ֣א בְ֭רָכָה מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה וּ֝צְדָקָ֗ה מֵאֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעֽוֹ׃ 5 As for this person with moral and religious integrity He will receive blessing from YHWH just as Obed-Edom was blessed after inhabiting with the presence of the ark and privilege from the God of his salvation- that is, the right standing to form part of those who will accompany YHWH's ark, just as Obed-Edom participated in the ark's procession.
זֶ֭ה דּ֣וֹר דֹּרְשָׁ֑יו מְבַקְשֵׁ֨י פָנֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃ 6 Previously Israel tried to manipulate YHWH's presence and did not respect his boundaries of holiness Such, that is, with moral purity and the ability to accompany the ark and enter YHWH's presence, is the generation of those now seeking him, of those who seek your face, the generation of Jacob. Selah.
שְׂא֤וּ שְׁעָרִ֨ים׀ רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֗ם וְֽ֭הִנָּשְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם וְ֝יָב֗וֹא מֶ֣לֶךְ הַכָּבֽוֹד׃ 7 This true Jacob, those now seeking him in right worship, are those qualified to enter his presence as they bring the ark of YHWH to his temple-mountain - an image of the entire cosmos. After subduing anything chaotic in creation, he is like a returning victor from battle entering his capital city, just as the ark was returned victoriously from the Philistine territory and the people of Beth-Shemesh lifted up their eyes and rejoiced, so Lift up your heads in expectation and hope, gates, you true worshippers who seek YHWH's face, and be lifted up to open and welcome him, eternal doorways, so that the glorious king might enter to be enthroned, victorious, over his cosmic temple!
מִ֥י זֶה֮ מֶ֤לֶךְ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד יְ֭הוָה עִזּ֣וּז וְגִבּ֑וֹר יְ֝הוָ֗ה גִּבּ֥וֹר מִלְחָמָֽה׃ 8 Who is this glorious king? The one who created and sustains the world, YHWH, has shown himself to be a mighty one and a warrior, superior over any other god, assuming his rest in the cosmic temple after establishing order in the cosmos. YHWH is a battle warrior, whose special presence is manifested by the Ark having returned from battle to enter his temple-mount.
שְׂא֤וּ שְׁעָרִ֨ים׀ רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֗ם וּ֭שְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם וְ֝יָבֹא מֶ֣לֶךְ הַכָּבֽוֹד׃ 9 Lift up your heads, gates of creation, indeed, of all his created subjects, and lift up to open and, eternal doorways, so that the glorious king might enter!
מִ֤י ה֣וּא זֶה֮ מֶ֤לֶךְ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֑וֹת ה֤וּא מֶ֖לֶךְ הַכָּב֣וֹד סֶֽלָה׃ 10 Who is this glorious king? The Lord of all creation who has revealed himself as YHWH of armies, sitting enthroned between the cherubim on the ark, and established his special presence on Mount Zion, He is the glorious king, to whom belongs the worship of the whole world. Selah.

Participant Tracking Text Participant Analysis focuses on the characters in the psalm and asks, “Who are the main participants (or characters) in this psalm, and what are they saying or doing? Our full analysis can be found in the Participant Analysis layer.

  Participant Color-Coding

There are 3 participants/characters in Psalm 24:

David

YHWH
"YHWH" (vv. 1, 3, 5, 8, 10)
"The God of... salvation" (v. 5)
"The glorious king" (vv. 7–10)

Congregation
"gates" (vv. 7, 9)
"eternal doorways" (vv. 7, 9)
one with clean hands and a pure heart (v. 4)
the generation of Jacob (v. 6)
"those who seek YHWH" (v. 6)

  • The psalmist, as the speaker throughout the psalm, is identified as David in the superscription.
  • YHWH is referred to as "the God of salvation" (v. 5) to the one who will approach his holy place (v. 3). As his people welcome him in as king, he is referred to as "the glorious king."
  • The addressee throughout the psalm (with the exception of v. 6) is considered to be the congregation. They are encouraged to examine themselves to ensure they belong to those "with clean hands and a pure heart" (v. 4) in order to be identified as "the generation of Jacob" and "those who seek YHWH" (v. 6). If that is the case, they are counted among those who receive the privilege of accompanying the Ark of YHWH into his holy place and welcome him as king, as if they, themselves, were the gates of the city. (For further detail, see the exegetical issue, The Meaning of "Doors" in Ps 24:7, 9).
Hebrew Verse English
לְדָוִ֗ד מִ֫זְמ֥וֹר 1a By David. A psalm.
לַֽ֭יהוָה הָאָ֣רֶץ וּמְלוֹאָ֑הּ 1b The earth and its fullness belong to YHWH,
תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל וְיֹ֣שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ 1c the world and the inhabitants in it,
כִּי־ה֭וּא׀ עַל־יַמִּ֣ים יְסָדָ֑הּ 2a because he has founded it upon the seas
וְעַל־נְ֝הָר֗וֹת יְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃ 2b and keeps it established upon the currents.
מִֽי־יַעֲלֶ֥ה בְהַר־יְהוָ֑ה 3a Who may go up on the mountain of YHWH?
וּמִי־יָ֝קוּם בִּמְק֥וֹם קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃ 3b And who may stand within his holy place?
נְקִ֥י כַפַּ֗יִם וּֽבַר־לֵ֫בָ֥ב 4a One with clean hands and a pure heart,
אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ לֹא־נָשָׂ֣א לַשָּׁ֣וְא נַפְשׁוֹ 4b who has not delighted in falsehood,
וְלֹ֖א נִשְׁבַּ֣ע לְמִרְמָֽה׃ 4c nor taken an oath deceitfully.
יִשָּׂ֣א בְ֭רָכָה מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה 5a He will receive blessing from YHWH
וּ֝צְדָקָ֗ה מֵאֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעֽוֹ׃ 5b and privilege from the God of his salvation.
זֶ֭ה דּ֣וֹר דֹּרְשָׁ֑יו 6a Such is the generation—those seeking him,
מְבַקְשֵׁ֨י פָנֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃ 6b those who seek your face—of Jacob. Selah.
שְׂא֤וּ שְׁעָרִ֨ים ׀ רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֗ם 7a Lift up your heads, gates,
וְֽ֭הִנָּשְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם 7b and be lifted up, eternal doorways,
וְ֝יָב֗וֹא מֶ֣לֶךְ הַכָּבֽוֹד׃ 7c so that the glorious king might enter!
מִ֥י זֶה֮ מֶ֤לֶךְ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד 8a Who is this, the glorious king?
יְ֭הוָה עִזּ֣וּז וְגִבּ֑וֹר 8b YHWH, a mighty one and a warrior;
יְ֝הוָ֗ה גִּבּ֥וֹר מִלְחָמָֽה׃ 8c YHWH, a battle warrior.
שְׂא֤וּ שְׁעָרִ֨ים ׀ רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֗ם 9a Lift up your heads, gates,
וּ֭שְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם 9b and lift up, eternal doorways,
וְ֝יָבֹא מֶ֣לֶךְ הַכָּבֽוֹד׃ 9c so that the glorious king might enter!
מִ֤י ה֣וּא זֶה֮ מֶ֤לֶךְ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד 10a Who is this, the glorious king?
יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֑וֹת ה֤וּא מֶ֖לֶךְ הַכָּב֣וֹד סֶֽלָה׃ 10b YHWH of armies, he is the glorious king. Selah.