Psalm 66:3
New International Version
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.

New Living Translation
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.

English Standard Version
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.

Berean Standard Bible
Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cower before You.

King James Bible
Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

New King James Version
Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.

New American Standard Bible
Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will pretend to obey You.

NASB 1995
Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You.

NASB 1977
Say to God, “How awesome are Thy works! Because of the greatness of Thy power Thine enemies will give feigned obedience to Thee.

Legacy Standard Bible
Say to God, “How fearsome are Your works! Because of the abundance of Your strength Your enemies will cower before You.

Amplified Bible
Say to God, “How awesome and fearfully glorious are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will pretend to be obedient to You.

Christian Standard Bible
Say to God, “How awe-inspiring are your works! Your enemies will cringe before you because of your great strength.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Say to God, “How awe-inspiring are Your works! Your enemies will cringe before You because of Your great strength.

American Standard Version
Say unto God, How terrible are thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

Contemporary English Version
Say to God, "Everything you do is fearsome, and your mighty power makes your enemies come crawling.

English Revised Version
Say unto God, How terrible are thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Say to God, "How awe-inspiring are your deeds! Your power is so great that your enemies will cringe in front of you.

Good News Translation
Say to God, "How wonderful are the things you do! Your power is so great that your enemies bow down in fear before you.

International Standard Version
Say to God: "How awesome are your works! Because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you."

Majority Standard Bible
Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cower before You.

NET Bible
Say to God: "How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great power your enemies cower in fear before you.

New Heart English Bible
Tell God, "How awesome are your deeds. Through the greatness of your power, your enemies submit themselves to you.

Webster's Bible Translation
Say to God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thy enemies submit themselves to thee.

World English Bible
Tell God, “How awesome are your deeds! Through the greatness of your power, your enemies submit themselves to you.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Say to God, “How fearful Your works—By the abundance of Your strength, "" Your enemies feign obedience to You.

Young's Literal Translation
Say to God, 'How fearful are Thy works, By the abundance of Thy strength, Thine enemies feign obedience to Thee.

Smith's Literal Translation
Say to God, How terrible thy works! in the multitude of thy strength thine enemies shall lie to thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Say unto God, How terrible are thy works, O Lord! in the multitude of thy strength thy enemies shall lie to thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Exclaim to God, “How terrible are your works, O Lord!” According to the fullness of your virtue, your enemies will speak lies about you.

New American Bible
Say to God: “How awesome your deeds! Before your great strength your enemies cringe.

New Revised Standard Version
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Say unto God, How wonderful are thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Say to God, "How awesome are your works! By the greatness of your might your enemies will be enlisted for you."
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Say unto God: 'How tremendous is Thy work! Through the greatness of Thy power shall Thine enemies dwindle away before Thee.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Say unto God, How awful are thy works! through the greatness of thy power thine enemies shall lie to thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Make a Joyful Noise
2Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious. 3Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cower before You. 4All the earth bows down to You; they sing praise to You; they sing praise to Your name.” Selah…

Cross References
Philippians 2:10-11
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Isaiah 45:23
By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.

Romans 14:11
It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.”

Exodus 15:14-16
The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the dwellers of Philistia. / Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; those who dwell in Canaan will melt away, / and terror and dread will fall on them. By the power of Your arm they will be as still as a stone until Your people pass by, O LORD, until the people You have bought pass by.

Revelation 15:4
Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Deuteronomy 32:43
Rejoice, O heavens, with Him, and let all God’s angels worship Him. Rejoice, O nations, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His children. He will take vengeance on His adversaries and repay those who hate Him; He will cleanse His land and His people.

Jeremiah 33:9
So this city will bring Me renown, joy, praise, and glory before all the nations of the earth, who will hear of all the good I do for it. They will tremble in awe because of all the goodness and prosperity that I will provide for it.

1 Chronicles 16:29-30
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; / tremble before Him, all the earth. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

Malachi 1:11
For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Zephaniah 2:11
The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.

Psalm 2:11-12
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. / Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

Psalm 18:44
When they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cower before me.

Psalm 81:15
Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience, and their doom would last forever.

Psalm 138:4
All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.

Isaiah 64:2
as fire kindles the brushwood and causes the water to boil, to make Your name known to Your enemies, so that the nations will tremble at Your presence!


Treasury of Scripture

Say to God, How terrible are you in your works! through the greatness of your power shall your enemies submit themselves to you.

How terrible

Psalm 47:2
For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

Psalm 65:5
By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:

Psalm 76:12
He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.

through

Psalm 18:44
As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

Psalm 22:28,29
For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations…

Psalm 68:30
Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.

submit themselves.

Psalm 78:35,36
And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer…

Jump to Previous
Abundance Awesome Cringe Cringing Deeds Dwindle Enemies Feared Fearful Feet Feign Feigned Forced Great Greatly Greatness Haters Obedience Power Submit Terrible Themselves Tremendous Work Works
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Abundance Awesome Cringe Cringing Deeds Dwindle Enemies Feared Fearful Feet Feign Feigned Forced Great Greatly Greatness Haters Obedience Power Submit Terrible Themselves Tremendous Work Works
Psalm 66
1. David exhorts to praise God
5. observe his great works
8. to bless him for his gracious benefits
12. He vows for himself reverent service to God
16. He declares God's special goodness to himself














Say to God
This phrase invites the believer to directly address the Almighty, emphasizing the personal relationship between God and His people. The Hebrew word for "say" is "אָמַר" (amar), which is often used in the context of making declarations or proclamations. This suggests that our communication with God should be intentional and reverent. Historically, the act of speaking to God reflects the covenant relationship established with Israel, where God is not a distant deity but one who listens and responds to His people.

How awesome are Your deeds!
The word "awesome" is translated from the Hebrew "יָרֵא" (yare), which conveys a sense of fear, reverence, and awe. This is not a fear that repels but one that draws us closer in wonder and respect. The deeds of God, as recounted throughout the Scriptures, include creation, deliverance, and acts of judgment and mercy. These deeds are a testament to His power and sovereignty. Historically, the Israelites would recall the mighty acts of God, such as the Exodus, as a reminder of His faithfulness and might.

So great is Your power
The phrase underscores the omnipotence of God. The Hebrew word for "power" is "עֹז" (oz), which denotes strength and might. This power is not just physical but also moral and spiritual, encompassing all aspects of God's nature. In the biblical narrative, God's power is demonstrated in creation, in sustaining the universe, and in His ability to bring about His purposes despite human opposition. This power assures believers of God's ability to protect and provide for them.

that Your enemies
The term "enemies" refers to those who oppose God and His purposes. In the Hebrew context, "אֹיֵב" (oyeb) is used, which can mean adversaries or foes. Throughout the Bible, enemies of God are often those who reject His authority and oppress His people. The historical context includes nations and individuals who stood against Israel, God's chosen people. However, the ultimate enemy is sin and death, which God has defeated through Christ.

cower before You
The imagery here is of submission and defeat. The Hebrew word "כָּחַשׁ" (kachash) implies a sense of cringing or yielding. This reflects the ultimate triumph of God's righteousness over evil. In the biblical narrative, this is seen in the eventual downfall of those who oppose God's will. Theologically, it points to the eschatological hope that all creation will acknowledge God's sovereignty, as every knee will bow and every tongue confess His lordship. This assurance encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate victory over all forms of opposition.

Verse 3. - Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! rather, How terrible are thy works! God's deliverances, while rejoicing the persecuted, are "terrible" to the persecutors. Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. God's enemies, compelled against their will, have to submit themselves, but it is a feigned submission (comp. Psalm 76:12).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Say
אִמְר֣וּ (’im·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to God,
לֵ֭אלֹהִים (lê·lō·hîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

“How
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

awesome
נּוֹרָ֣א (nō·w·rā)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

are Your deeds!
מַעֲשֶׂ֑יךָ (ma·‘ă·śe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property

So great is Your
בְּרֹ֥ב (bə·rōḇ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness

power
עֻ֝זְּךָ֗ (‘uz·zə·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5797: Strength, might

that Your enemies
אֹיְבֶֽיךָ׃ (’ō·yə·ḇe·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 341: Hating, an adversary

cower before You.
יְֽכַחֲשׁ֖וּ (yə·ḵa·ḥă·šū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3584: To disappoint, deceive, fail, grow lean


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OT Poetry: Psalm 66:3 Tell God How awesome are your deeds! (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 66:2
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