New English Translation Psalms 93

1 The Lord reigns!

He is robed in majesty,

the Lord is robed,

he wears strength around his waist.1

Indeed, the world is established, it cannot be moved.

2 Your throne has been secure from ancient times;

you have always been king.2

3 The waves3 roar, O Lord,

the waves roar,

the waves roar and crash.4

4 Above the sound of the surging water,5

and the mighty waves of the sea,

the Lord sits enthroned in majesty.6

5 The rules you set down7 are completely reliable.8

Holiness9 aptly adorns your house, O Lord, forever.10 11

1 93:1 sn: Psalm 93. The psalmist affirms that the Lord is the king of the universe who preserves order and suppresses the destructive forces in the world. 2 93:2 sn: Strength is compared here to a belt that one wears for support. The Lord’s power undergirds his rule. 3 93:3 tn: Heb “from antiquity [are] you.” As the context suggests, this refers specifically to God’s royal position, not his personal existence. 4 93:3 tn: The Hebrew noun translated “waves” often refers to rivers or streams, but here it appears to refer to the surging waves of the sea (see v. 4, Ps 24:2). 5 93:4 tn: Heb “the waves lift up, O Lord, the waves lift up their voice, the waves lift up their crashing.” 6 93:4 tn: Heb “mighty waters.” sn: The surging waters here symbolizes the hostile enemies of God who seek to destroy the order he has established in the world (see Pss 18:17; 29:3; 32:6; 77:20; 144:7; Isa 17:13; Jer 51:55; Ezek 26:19; Hab 3:15). But the Lord is depicted as elevated above and sovereign over these raging waters. 7 93:5 tn: Heb “mighty on high [is] the Lord.” 8 93:5 tn: Traditionally “your testimonies.” The Hebrew noun עֵדוּת (’edut) refers here to the demands of God’s covenant law. See Ps 19:7. 9 93:5 sn: The rules you set down. God’s covenant contains a clear, reliable witness to his moral character and demands. 10 93:5 sn: Holiness refers here to God’s royal transcendence (see vv. 1-4), as well as his moral authority and perfection (see v. 5a). 11 93:5 tn: Heb “for your house holiness is fitting, O Lord, for length of days.”