ה' מָלָךְ ותָּגֵל הָאָרֶץ יִשְׂמְחוּ אִיִּים רַבִּים

The Lord reigns, and when He is revealed as sovereign, the earth will rejoice. The many islands all over the world will be glad.

עָנָן וַעֲרָפֶל סְבִיבָיו צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט מְכוֹן כִּסְאוֹ

The psalmist describes what this revelation will be like: Cloud and fog surround Him to conceal His glory as He sits upon His throne; justice and judgment are the base of His throne.

אֵשׁ לְפָנָיו תֵּלֵךְ וּתְלַהֵט סָבִיב צָרָיו

Fire goes before Him, an expression of His glory; but fire is also used as a tool for punishment, and it burns around His foes.

הֵאִירוּ בְרָקָיו תֵּבֵל; רָאֲתָה וַתָּחֵל הָאָרֶץ

His lightning illuminates the world; the earth sees, and trembles.

הָרִים כַּדּוֹנַג נָמַסּוּ מִלִּפְנֵי ה'מִלִּפְנֵי אֲדוֹן כָּל הָאָרֶץ

Mountains melt like wax in fear at the presence of the Lord, before the Master of all the earth.

הִגִּידוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם צִדְקוֹ וְרָאוּ כָל הָעַמִּים כְּבוֹדוֹ

The heavens declare His righteousness, which will become apparent to all of creation, all the way up to the heavens; all peoples behold His glory.

יֵבֹשׁוּ כָּל עֹבְדֵי פֶסֶל הַמִּתְהַלְלִים בָּאֱלִילִים הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לוֹ כָּל אֱלֹהִים

At this time of revelation, all those who worship images, who glorify idols, will be ashamed, realizing the utter inanity of their belief. All gods, the heavenly powers and angels, will bow down before Him.

שָׁמְעָה וַתִּשְׂמַח צִיּוֹן וַתָּגֵלְנָה בְּנוֹת יְהוּדָה לְמַעַן מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ ה'

Zion will hear and be glad, for it is the city of God; and the daughters of Judah will rejoice because of Your judgments that You will mete out upon this revelation, Lord.

כִּי אַתָּה ה' עֶלְיוֹן עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ; מְאֹד נַעֲלֵיתָ עַל כָּל אֱלֹהִים

For You, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; You are greatly exalted, not only above us but above all gods.

אֹהֲבֵי ה' שִׂנְאוּ רָע שֹׁמֵר נַפְשׁוֹת חֲסִידָיו מִיַּד רְשָׁעִים יַצִּילֵם

The psalmist now turns to those who serve God: You who love the Lord, hate evil. It is not enough to cleave to God; you must also take a clear stand against evil. But you need not fear a backlash from the evildoers when you denounce them, for He guards the lives of His devoted ones, saving them from the hand of the wicked.

אוֹר זָרֻעַ לַצַּדִּיק וּלְיִשְׁרֵי לֵב שִׂמְחָה

Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright of heart. Light for the righteous, representing glory, exists, even though it is not always evident in the present. It is sown for them like seeds; eventually, their light will grow and be revealed to all.

שִׂמְחוּ צַדִּיקִים בַּה'; וְהוֹדוּ לְזֵכֶר קָדְשׁוֹ

Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones, and give thanks at the mention of His holy name.