Psalm 24
This is a psalm that David wrote.
Who can come near to God, the great King?
1 The whole earth belongs to the Lord.
Everybody who lives in the world
and all the things in it belong to him.
2 The Lord built the foundation of the earth.
He built it on the seas and the rivers.
24:2See Genesis 1:9-10. God made the dry land become separate from the water of the seas. 3 Who may climb up the hill of the Lord?
Who can stand in his holy place?
24:3The hill of the Lord was Mount Zion. God's holy place was the tent where the Covenant Box was. Later, it was the temple that King Solomon built.
4 Only the person who does what is right,
and who has pure thoughts.
He does not worship idols
and he does not make false promises.
5 The Lord will bless people who are like that.
The Lord God will save them.
He will say that they are not guilty of wrong things.
6 People like that come to God.
They want to please him.
They like to pray to the God of Jacob.
24:6Jacob was Abraham's grandson. His father was Isaac. Esau was his brother. God gave Jacob a new name, ‘Israel’. The 12 tribes of Israel were descendants of Jacob's 12 sons.
7 Old gates of the city, wake up!
Open now, to leave a wide path!
Then the great king of glory will come in.
8 Who is this great king of glory?
He is the Lord,
who is strong and powerful.
He is the Lord,
who wins against his enemies.
9 Be ready, you old gates of the city!
Be ready to open wide!
Then the great king of glory will come in.
10 Who is this great king?
He is the Almighty Lord.
Yes, he is the great king of glory!
