Read & explore together
Make a Joyful Noise
Psalm 66 is a song that calls everyone to praise God, then moves from the voice of a gathered people to the voice of one worshipper. It celebrates God’s mighty deeds, his preserving care, and his hearing of prayer.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
This passage speaks as poetry and song. It begins with all the earth being called to shout, sing, and worship God, then recalls God’s mighty acts and rule. Next it speaks of testing, trouble, and deliverance, and finally one speaker promises offerings and gives personal testimony about prayer.
Psalms 66:1–20Main takeaway
Psalm 66 teaches that God is praised for his mighty deeds, his preserving care through testing, and his listening ear to sincere prayer.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01All the earth is called to praiseThe psalm opens with a wide invitation: “all the earth” is to shout, sing, and give glory to God’s name.
Explanation
The psalm opens with a wide invitation: “all the earth” is to shout, sing, and give glory to God’s name. God’s deeds are called “awesome”, and even his enemies are pictured as submitting because of his great power. Worship here is not quiet only. It is joyful, vocal, and God-centred.
02God’s deeds show his power and ruleThe song invites listeners to “come, and see” what God has done. It mentions the sea becoming dry land and people going through the river on foot, using these acts to lead into rejoicing.
Explanation
The song invites listeners to “come, and see” what God has done. It mentions the sea becoming dry land and people going through the river on foot, using these acts to lead into rejoicing. The psalm also says God rules forever and watches the nations, so rebellious people should not rise against him.
03God preserved his people through testingThe next call is for peoples to make God’s praise heard because he preserves life and keeps feet from slipping.
Explanation
The next call is for peoples to make God’s praise heard because he preserves life and keeps feet from slipping. Yet this care does not mean no hardship. The psalm says God tested and refined his people like silver, brought them into confinement and burden, and led them through fire and water before bringing abundance.
04Personal worship and answered prayerThe voice becomes personal: “I will come” and “I will pay my vows”. The worshipper brings offerings promised in distress, then invites those who fear God to hear a testimony.
Explanation
The voice becomes personal: “I will come” and “I will pay my vows”. The worshipper brings offerings promised in distress, then invites those who fear God to hear a testimony. He cried out, honoured God with his tongue, and says cherished sin would hinder hearing. Yet God did listen and did not turn away prayer or loving kindness.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What words in the opening verses show how broad and joyful the call to worship is?
Notice who is invited and the action words used, such as shout, sing, offer glory, and worship.
02How does the psalm describe both hardship and rescue in the middle of the song?
List the testing images and then the words that show God’s preserving and bringing into abundance.
03What does the final part say about prayer, praise, and the heart of the worshipper?
Compare the speaker’s cry to God, the warning about cherishing sin, and the clear statement that God listened.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 66:1–20
1Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
2Sing to the glory of his name! Offer glory and praise!
3Tell God, “How awesome are your deeds! Through the greatness of your power, your enemies submit themselves to you.
4All the earth will worship you, and will sing to you; they will sing to your name.” Selah.
5Come, and see God’s deeds— awesome work on behalf of the children of men.
6He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There, we rejoiced in him.
7He rules by his might forever. His eyes watch the nations. Don’t let the rebellious rise up against him. Selah.
8Praise our God, you peoples! Make the sound of his praise heard,
9who preserves our life among the living, and doesn’t allow our feet to be moved.
10For you, God, have tested us. You have refined us, as silver is refined.
11You brought us into prison. You laid a burden on our backs.
12You allowed men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water, but you brought us to the place of abundance.
13I will come into your temple with burnt offerings. I will pay my vows to you,
14which my lips promised, and my mouth spoke, when I was in distress.
15I will offer to you burnt offerings of fat animals, with the offering of rams, I will offer bulls with goats. Selah.
16Come and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul.
17I cried to him with my mouth. He was extolled with my tongue.
18If I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord wouldn’t have listened.
19But most certainly, God has listened. He has heard the voice of my prayer.
20Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor his loving kindness from me.