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Shared Word Translation

Psalm 29

A psalm of David.

Ascribe to the LORD, you sons of gods;
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name;
bow down to the LORD in holy splendor.

The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders;
the LORD is over mighty waters. The voice of the LORD is in power;
the voice of the LORD is in majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks cedars;
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes them skip like a calf—
Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD carves out flames of fire. The voice of the LORD makes the wilderness writhe;
the LORD makes the wilderness of Kadesh writhe. The voice of the LORD brings does to birth
and strips forests bare;
and in his temple, all say, “Glory!”

The LORD sat enthroned over the flood;
the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. May the LORD give strength to his people;
may the LORD bless his people with peace.

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Notes

Translation notes for Psalm 29.

v01

“Sons of gods” is a literal rendering of a phrase that may refer to heavenly beings. The psalm opens by summoning even the divine council to acknowledge the LORD’s incomparable glory and strength.

v02

“Holy splendor” can also be understood as “the splendor of holiness.” The phrase holds together the LORD’s holiness and the fitting beauty of worship offered to him.

v03–09

The repeated “voice of the LORD” evokes a thunderstorm moving from the waters and Lebanon toward the wilderness of Kadesh. The storm imagery declares the LORD’s sovereign power over creation.

v09

The final clause may refer to all within the LORD’s temple, or more broadly to everything in it. The response to the LORD’s terrifying voice is the single cry, “Glory!”

v10

“The flood” uses a word otherwise associated with the great flood of Genesis. The LORD’s kingship is set over the most overwhelming waters and endures forever.

v01

“Sons of gods” is a literal rendering of a phrase that may refer to heavenly beings.

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Vocabulary

Selected source-language vocabulary for Psalm 29.

v01

**בְּנֵי אֵלִים

*bene ʾelim***: “sons of gods.” This expression places the LORD above all heavenly powers summoned to ascribe glory to him.

v03

**קוֹל

*qol***: “voice.” Repeated seven times in vv. 3–9, the LORD’s voice is heard in the thunderstorm and portrayed as active throughout creation.

v03

**כָּבוֹד

*kavod***: “glory.” The word conveys weight, splendor, and manifest honor. The God of glory thunders, and all in his temple answer, “Glory!”

v10

**מַבּוּל

*mabbul***: “flood.” This distinctive term recalls the cosmic waters of the flood narrative, emphasizing that the LORD reigns even over chaos.

v10

מַבּוּל (mabbul)

“flood.” This distinctive term recalls the cosmic waters of the flood narrative, with a sense of that the LORD reigns even over chaos.

v01

בְּנֵי אֵלִים (bene elim)

“Sons of gods/divine beings.” A plural expression for members of the heavenly assembly.

v03

קוֹל (qol)

“Voice.” Repeated seven times in vv. 3–9 and associated with the storm imagery.

v03

כָּבוֹד (kavod)

“glory.” The word conveys weight, splendor, and manifest honor. The God of glory thunders, and all in his temple answer, “Glory!”