Psalm 67:1
New International Version
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—

New Living Translation
May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us. Interlude

English Standard Version
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah

Berean Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah

King James Bible
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.

New King James Version
To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah

New American Standard Bible
For the music director; with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah

NASB 1995
For the choir director; with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah.

NASB 1977
God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the choir director. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah.

Amplified Bible
To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. God be gracious and kind-hearted to us and bless us, And make His face shine [with favor] on us— Selah.

Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us; may he make his face shine upon us Selah

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us; look on us with favor Selah

American Standard Version
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm, a Song. God be merciful unto us, and bless us, And cause his face to shine upon us; [Selah

Contemporary English Version
Our God, be kind and bless us! Be pleased and smile.

English Revised Version
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm, a Song. God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[For the choir director; on stringed instruments; a psalm; a song.] May God have pity on us and bless us! May he smile on us. [Selah]

Good News Translation
God, be merciful to us and bless us; look on us with kindness,

International Standard Version
May God show us favor and bless us; may he truly show us his favor. Interlude

Majority Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah

NET Bible
For the music director; to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm, a song. May God show us his favor and bless us! May he smile on us! (Selah)

New Heart English Bible
[For the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song.] May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah.

Webster's Bible Translation
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song. God be merciful to us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us. Selah.

World English Bible
For the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
TO THE OVERSEER. WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. A PSALM. A SONG. God favors us and blesses us, "" [And] causes His face to shine with us. Selah.

Young's Literal Translation
To the Overseer, with stringed instruments. -- A Psalm, a Song. God doth favour us and bless us, Doth cause His face to shine with us. Selah.

Smith's Literal Translation
To the overseer upon the stringed instrument: chanting of the song. God will compassionate us and bless us; his face will enlighten us. Silence.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, in, hymns, a psalm of a canticle for David. May God have mercy on us, and bless us: may he cause the light of his countenance to shine upon us, and may he have mercy on us.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Unto the end. With hymns, a Canticle Psalm of David. May God have mercy on us and bless us. May he shine his countenance upon us, and may he have mercy on us.

New American Bible
For the leader; with stringed instruments. A psalm; a song. [2] May God be gracious to us and bless us; may his face shine upon us. Selah

New Revised Standard Version
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
GOD be merciful unto us and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Our God will show mercy upon us; he will bless us and shine his face upon us,
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For the Leader; with string-music. A Psalm, a Song. God be gracious unto us, and bless us; May He cause His face to shine toward us; Selah

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the end, a Psalm of David among the Hymns. God be merciful to us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us. Pause.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
May God Cause His Face to Shine Upon Us
1For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah 2that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.…

Cross References
Numbers 6:24-26
‘May the LORD bless you and keep you; / may the LORD cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; / may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’

Psalm 4:6
Many ask, “Who can show us the good?” Shine the light of Your face upon us, O LORD.

Psalm 31:16
Make Your face shine on Your servant; save me by Your loving devotion.

Psalm 80:3
Restore us, O God, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.

Psalm 80:7
Restore us, O God of Hosts, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.

Psalm 80:19
Restore us, O LORD God of Hosts; cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.

Psalm 119:135
Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.

Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

Isaiah 60:19
No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor.

Daniel 9:17
So now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servant. For Your sake, O Lord, cause Your face to shine upon Your desolate sanctuary.

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Luke 1:78-79
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, / to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:16
From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.


Treasury of Scripture

God be merciful to us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine on us; Selah.

A.

Psalm 4:1
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

Psalm 6:1
To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

Psalm 76:1
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.

God

Numbers 6:24-27
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: …

Deuteronomy 21:8
Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.

2 Corinthians 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

bless us

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

Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

cause

Psalm 4:6
There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

Psalm 31:16
Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.

Psalm 80:1-3,7,19
To the chief Musician upon ShoshannimEduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth…

upon us [heb.

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Psalm 67
1. A prayer for the enlargement of God's kingdom
3. to the joy of the people
6. and the increase of God's blessings














May God be gracious to us
The phrase begins with a plea for divine grace, a central theme in the Hebrew Bible. The Hebrew word for "gracious" is "חָנַן" (chanan), which conveys a sense of favor and mercy. This request for grace reflects the Israelites' understanding of their dependence on God's benevolence. Historically, this plea would resonate deeply with the Israelites, who often found themselves in need of God's intervention and favor, whether in times of wandering, warfare, or exile. Theologically, it underscores the belief that all blessings flow from God's unmerited favor.

and bless us
The Hebrew word for "bless" is "בָּרַךְ" (barak), which means to kneel, to praise, or to bless. In the ancient Near Eastern context, blessings were seen as powerful words that could shape reality. The request for blessing is not just for material prosperity but also for spiritual well-being and divine protection. This reflects the covenant relationship between God and His people, where blessings are a sign of God's faithfulness and presence.

and cause His face to shine upon us
This phrase is a poetic expression of God's favor and presence. The imagery of God's face shining is rooted in the Hebrew word "אוֹר" (or), meaning light. It evokes the idea of God's countenance bringing life, guidance, and protection. In the ancient world, a shining face was a sign of approval and goodwill. This imagery is reminiscent of the Aaronic blessing in Numbers 6:24-26, where God's face shining upon His people signifies peace and grace. It is a reminder of the intimate relationship between God and His people, where His presence is both a source of comfort and a guiding light.

Selah
This term, often found in the Psalms, is of uncertain meaning but is thought to be a musical or liturgical pause. It invites the reader or listener to pause and reflect on the preceding words. In the context of Psalm 67:1, "Selah" serves as a moment to meditate on the profound request for God's grace, blessing, and presence. It encourages believers to internalize the significance of these divine gifts and to respond with gratitude and reverence. The use of "Selah" highlights the importance of contemplation in worship and the need to acknowledge God's active role in the lives of His people.

(1) This verse is an adaptation of the priestly benediction (Numbers 6:24-26).

Upon us.--Rather, with, or among us; a variation from the formal benediction.

Verse 1. - God be merciful unto us, and bless us. An echo of the priestly blessing (Numbers 6:24, 25), but not necessarily uttered by a priest. The substitution of Elohim for Jehovah is natural, considering the universalist character of the psalm. And cause his face to shine upon us; literally, with us. "With us" especially, as the people of God; but not "with us" exclusively, as the whole psalm makes manifest.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For the choirmaster.
לַמְנַצֵּ֥ח (lam·naṣ·ṣêḥ)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5329: To glitter from afar, to be eminent, to be permanent

With stringed instruments.
בִּנְגִינֹ֗ת (bin·ḡî·nōṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5068: To impel, to volunteer, to present spontaneously

A Psalm.
מִזְמ֥וֹר (miz·mō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4210: Instrumental music, a poem set to notes

A Song.
שִֽׁיר׃ (šîr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7892: A song, singing

May God
אֱלֹהִ֗ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

be gracious to us
יְחָנֵּ֥נוּ (yə·ḥān·nê·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural
Strong's 2603: To bend, stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, bestow, to implore

and bless us,
וִֽיבָרְכֵ֑נוּ (wî·ḇā·rə·ḵê·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

[and] cause His face
פָּנָ֖יו (pā·nāw)
Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

to shine upon
יָ֤אֵ֥ר (yā·’êr)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 215: To be or become light

us,
אִתָּ֣נוּ (’it·tā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

Selah
סֶֽלָה׃ (se·lāh)
Interjection
Strong's 5542: Suspension, pause


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OT Poetry: Psalm 67:1 For the Chief Musician (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 66:20
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