Psalm 33 is a joyful hymn to God the Creator and Lord of history: “Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: praise becometh the upright… By the word of the Lord the heavens were established.” It ends with a verse every Catholic who knows the Te Deum will recognize: “Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in thee.” In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 32. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 33 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
A psalm for David. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: praise becometh the upright.
Give praise to the Lord on the harp; sing to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings.
Sing to him a new canticle, sing well unto him with a loud noise.
For the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done with faithfulness.
He loveth mercy and judgment; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were established; and all the power of them by the spirit of his mouth:
Gathering together the waters of the sea, as in a vessel; laying up the depths in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord, and let all the inhabitants of the world be in awe of him.
For he spoke and they were made: he commanded and they were created.
The Lord bringeth to naught the counsels of nations; and he rejecteth the devices of people, and casteth away the counsels of princes.
But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.
The Lord hath looked from heaven: he hath beheld all the sons of men.
From his habitation which he hath prepared, he hath looked upon all that dwell on the earth.
He who hath made the hearts of every one of them: who understandeth all their works.
The king is not saved by a great army: nor shall the giant be saved by his own great strength.
Vain is the horse for safety: neither shall he be saved by the abundance of his strength.
Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them that fear him: and on them that hope in his mercy.
To deliver their souls from death; and feed them in famine.
Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and protector.
For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have trusted.
Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in thee.
Psalm 33 or Psalm 32?
The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 32 is Psalm 33 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Exsultate, iusti, in Domino. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- A new song: “Sing to him a new canticle,” praise with skill and joy.
- Creation by the Word: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were established; and all the power of them by the spirit of his mouth.” Christians see the Holy Trinity at work: the Father creates through the Word and the Spirit (John 1:3).
- God rules history: the plans of nations fail, but “the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever.”
- Blessed nation: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”
- Hope in his mercy: “Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in thee,” the last line of the Te Deum.
How the Church uses Psalm 33
- At the Easter Vigil, after the reading of creation, as an alternative to Psalm 104: “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” See the Easter Vigil.
- On the Second Sunday of Lent (Year A): “Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you,” and on Trinity Sunday (Year B): “Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.”
- In the Liturgy of the Hours, at Morning Prayer.
A prayer with Psalm 33
Written for this page:
I rejoice in you, Lord, and sing you a new song.
By your word the heavens were made; your plans stand for ever.
Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.
Let your mercy be upon us, O Lord, as we place our hope in you. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Where is “Let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you”?
Psalm 33:22 (32:22 in the Douay-Rheims). It is also the last line of the Te Deum.
Where is “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made”?
Psalm 33:6 (32:6 in the Douay-Rheims).
More psalms and prayers
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 32 (33); John 1:3, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.