Psalms 98:1

A psalm. Sing to the Lord a new song, ²  for he performs ³  amazing deeds! His right hand and his mighty arm accomplish deliverance. ⁴ 

Ge 3:15; Ex 15:6,11; Ex 15:6; Ps 2:5,6; Ps 33:3; Ps 45:3-5; Ps 77:14; Ps 86:10; Ps 96:1; Ps 105:5; Ps 110:2-6; Ps 136:4; Ps 139:14; Ps 149:1; Isa 42:10; Isa 43:18-20; Isa 52:10; Isa 59:16; Isa 63:5; Jer 31:22; Lu 1:49; Lu 2:10-14; Joh 16:33; Ac 2:11; Ac 19:20; Col 2:15; Heb 2:14,15; Re 3:21; Re 5:9; Re 6:2; Re 14:3; Re 15:3,4; Re 17:14; Re 19:11-21

¹ sn Psalm 98. The psalmist summons the whole earth to praise God because he reveals his justice and delivers Israel.

² sn A new song is appropriate because the Lord is constantly intervening in the world as its just king. See Ps 96:1.

³ tn The perfect verbal forms in vv. 1-3 are understood here as describing characteristic divine activities. Another option is to translate them as present perfects, “has performed…has accomplished deliverance, etc.” referring to completed actions that have continuing results.

⁴ tn Heb “his right hand delivers for him and his holy arm.” The right hand and arm symbolize his power as a warrior-king (see Isa 52:10). His arm is “holy” in the sense that it is in a category of its own; God’s power is incomparable.