All people that on earth do dwell - Psalm 100

 

"All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice:
Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell;
Come ye before him and rejoice."

These are words of the hymn written by William Kethe. He was a minister from Scotland, although he spent many years living in exile in Europe. During his time in Geneva, he helped translate the Bible into French, working mainly on the book of Psalms. This version of the hymn is actually based on his interpretation of Psalm 100.

I am sure that modern Psalm translator Eugene Peterson would have been influenced by the poets of old. These are Peterson's words to sum up Psalm 100.

^1-2 On your feet now—applaud God!
    Bring a gift of laughter,
    sing yourselves into his presence.

³ Know this: God is God, and God, God.
    He made us; we didn’t make him.
    We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.

⁴ Enter with the password: “Thank you!”
    Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
    Thank him. Worship him.

⁵ For God is sheer beauty,
    all-generous in love,
    loyal always and ever.

Living in Grace

D3LM3