Psalm 33:12
New International Version
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.

New Living Translation
What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.

English Standard Version
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

Berean Standard Bible
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance!

King James Bible
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

New King James Version
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

New American Standard Bible
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen for His own inheritance.

NASB 1995
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

NASB 1977
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

Legacy Standard Bible
Blessed is the nation whose God is Yahweh, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

Amplified Bible
Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen as His own inheritance.

Christian Standard Bible
Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD — the people he has chosen to be his own possession!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Happy is the nation whose God is Yahweh— the people He has chosen to be His own possession!

American Standard Version
Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah, The people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD blesses each nation that worships only him. He blesses his chosen ones.

English Revised Version
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD. Blessed are the people he has chosen as his own.

Good News Translation
Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD; happy are the people he has chosen for his own!

International Standard Version
How blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he has chosen as his own inheritance.

Majority Standard Bible
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance!

NET Bible
How blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen to be his special possession.

New Heart English Bible
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.

Webster's Bible Translation
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

World English Bible
Blessed is the nation whose God is Yahweh, the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
O the blessedness of the nation whose God [is] YHWH, "" Of the people He chose, "" For an inheritance to Him.

Young's Literal Translation
O the happiness of the nation whose God is Jehovah, Of the people He did choose, For an inheritance to Him.

Smith's Literal Translation
Happy the nation to whom Jehovah is his God; the people he chose for an inheritance to him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his inheritance.

New American Bible
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people chosen as his inheritance.

New Revised Standard Version
Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Blessed are the people whose God is LORD JEHOVAH: the people whom he has chosen for himself for his inheritance.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD; The people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Praise to the Creator
11The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations. 12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance! 13The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 7:6
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Exodus 19:5-6
Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. / And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”

Genesis 12:2-3
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

Romans 9:4-5
the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. / Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.

Isaiah 41:8-10
“But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend— / I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners. I said, ‘You are My servant.’ I have chosen and not rejected you. / Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Ephesians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. / For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love

2 Chronicles 7:14
and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Galatians 3:8-9
The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” / So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Jeremiah 31:33
“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

1 Chronicles 17:21-22
And who is like Your people Israel—the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem as a people for Himself? You made a name for Yourself through great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed from Egypt. / For You have made Your people Israel Your very own forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God.

Acts 3:25-26
And you are sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers when He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ / When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Isaiah 43:1
But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!

Revelation 5:9-10
And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. / You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”


Treasury of Scripture

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.

Blessed

Psalm 144:15
Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

Psalm 147:19,20
He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel…

Exodus 19:5,6
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: …

people

Psalm 65:4
Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

Psalm 135:4
For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

Deuteronomy 7:6-8
For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth…

his own

Psalm 28:9
Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

Jeremiah 10:16
The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name.

Titus 2:14
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

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Psalm 33
1. God is to be praised for his goodness
6. for his power
12. and for his providence
20. Confidence is to be placed in God














Blessed is the nation
The word "blessed" in Hebrew is "אַשְׁרֵי" (ashrei), which conveys a sense of happiness, fortune, and divine favor. In the context of a nation, it implies a collective state of well-being and prosperity that comes from being in right standing with God. Historically, Israel experienced periods of blessing when they followed God's commandments, as seen in the reigns of kings like David and Solomon. This phrase suggests that a nation's true prosperity is not merely economic or military but is deeply rooted in spiritual alignment with God's will.

whose God is the LORD
The term "LORD" here is the tetragrammaton "YHWH," the personal name of God revealed to Moses. It signifies a covenant relationship, emphasizing that the nation acknowledges and worships the one true God. In the ancient Near Eastern context, nations often had their own deities, but Israel's identity was distinct because of their exclusive worship of Yahweh. This phrase underscores the importance of national identity being intertwined with the worship and acknowledgment of God as supreme.

the people He has chosen
The Hebrew word for "chosen" is "בָּחַר" (bachar), which means to select or elect. This reflects the biblical theme of election, where God sovereignly chooses individuals or groups for a specific purpose. Israel was chosen to be a light to the nations, a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:6). This concept of divine election is foundational in understanding God's redemptive plan, which extends to the Church in the New Testament as a chosen people (1 Peter 2:9).

as His inheritance
The word "inheritance" in Hebrew is "נַחֲלָה" (nachalah), which refers to a possession or heritage. In the Old Testament, the land of Canaan was often described as Israel's inheritance from God. However, this phrase goes beyond physical land, indicating a spiritual inheritance where the people themselves are God's treasured possession. This reflects the intimate relationship between God and His people, where they are valued and cherished as His own. In a broader theological sense, it points to the ultimate inheritance believers have in Christ, as co-heirs with Him (Romans 8:17).

Verses 12-19. - Further reasons for praising God are now assigned, the recitation of them being itself a sort of praise.

1. God has Blessed especially one nation - the nation now called upon to praise him (ver. 12).

2. His providence and care are extended over all mankind (vers. 13, 14).

3. His gracious influences are poured out on the hearts of all (ver. 15). . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Blessed
אַשְׁרֵ֣י (’aš·rê)
Interjection
Strong's 835: Happiness, interjection, how happy!

[is] the nation
הַ֭גּוֹי (hag·gō·w)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

whose
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

God
אֱלֹהָ֑יו (’ĕ·lō·hāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

is the LORD,
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

the people
הָעָ֓ם ׀ (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

He has chosen
בָּחַ֖ר (bā·ḥar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 977: To try, select

as His inheritance!
לְנַחֲלָ֣ה (lə·na·ḥă·lāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5159: Something inherited, occupancy, an heirloom, an estate, patrimony, portion


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OT Poetry: Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 33:11
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