Psalms 65:1

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 65:1 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion; And unto thee shall the vow be performed.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion; And unto thee shall the vow be performed.
Psalms 65:1 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 65

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion; And unto thee shall the vow be performed.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion, etc.] Who dwells in Sion, as Jarchi interprets it; and so the Targum; whose Shechinah, or glorious Majesty, is in Sion; (see <197602>Psalm 76:2); or else Sion, which designs no other than the church of God, and which is so called under the Gospel dispensation, (<581222>Hebrews 12:22 <661401>Revelation 14:1); is the place where “praise” waits for God, that being the city of our solemnities, as well as the city of the great King; and not only a house of prayer, but of praise, where the sacrifices, both of prayer and praise, are offered to God through Christ with acceptance: and praise may be said to “wait” for him here, because it is “due” to him here,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“This is a song of praise for God's spiritual blessings to His people and His kind providence over all the earth. (Psa 65:1-13) Praise waiteth for thee--literally, "To Thee silence praise," or (compare Psa 62:1), To Thee silence is praise--that is, Praise is waiting as a servant; it is due to Thee. So the last clause expresses the duty of paying vows. These two parts of acceptable worship, mentioned in Psa 50:14, are rendered in Zion, where God chiefly displays His mercy and receives homage.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion - That is, all the arrangements are made; the people are assembled; their hearts are prepared to praise thee. The fact that Zion is mentioned here as the seat of praise would seem to imply that this psalm was composed before the building of the temple, contrary to the opinion of DeWette and others, as noticed in the Introduction to the psalm, for after the building of the temple the seat of worship was transferred from Mount Zion, where David had placed the ark and prepared a tent for it 1 Chronicles 15:1; 1Ch 16:1; 2 Chronicles 1:4, to Mount Moriah. It is true that the general name Zion was given familiarly to Jerusalem as a city, but it is also true…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“Ps 65 This psalm recounts the reasons why all people should praise and revere God for his almighty power and merciful care for his universe. 65:1-3 Praise is the appropriate response to God’s majestic deeds in redemption (65:3-5) and in nature (65:5-13). 65:1 God alone deserves praise and is worthy to have vows made to him.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Praise: Psa 21:13, Psa 115:1, Psa 115:2 waiteth: Heb. is silent, Psa 62:1 in Sion: Psa 76:2, Psa 78:68, Psa 78:69; Ch1 11:7, Ch1 15:29, Ch1 16:41, Ch1 16:42, 25:1-31; Rev 14:1-3 unto: Psa 56:12, Psa 76:11, Psa 116:17 Psalms 65:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The praise of God on account of the mercy with which He rules out of Zion. The lxx renders σοὶ πρέπει ὕμνος, but דּומיּה, tibi par est, h. e. convenit laus (Ewald), is not a usage of the language (cf. Psa 33:1; Jer 10:7). דּמיּה signifies, according to Psa 22:3, silence, and as an ethical notion, resignation, Psa 62:2. According to the position of the words it looks like the subject, and תּהלּה like the predicate. The accents at least (Illuj, Shalsheleth) assume the relationship of the one word to the other to be that of predicate and subject; consequently it is not: To Thee belongeth resignation, praise (Hengstenberg), but: To Thee is resignation praise, i.e., resignation is (given or…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification