Psalm 100, the Jubilate Deo, is a short, exuberant call to worship: “Sing joyfully to God, all the earth: serve ye the Lord with gladness.” It invites the whole world to enter God’s courts with praise, because “his mercy endureth for ever.” Many know it from the King James Version as “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 99. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 100 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
A psalm of praise.
Sing joyfully to God, all the earth: serve ye the Lord with gladness. Come in before his presence with exceeding great joy.
Know ye that the Lord he is God: he made us, and not we ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Go ye into his gates with praise, into his courts with hymns: and give glory to him. Praise ye his name:
For the Lord is sweet, his mercy endureth for ever, and his truth to generation and generation.
Psalm 100 or Psalm 99?
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 99 is Psalm 100 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Jubilate Deo omnis terra. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- All the earth: the call to praise is universal, for every nation.
- Serve the Lord with gladness: worship is joy, not burden.
- “We are his people and the sheep of his pasture”: God made us and cares for us as a shepherd.
- Enter his gates with thanksgiving: the psalm was sung as pilgrims entered the Temple.
- His mercy endures for ever: the reason for all our praise.
How the Church uses Psalm 100
- As an alternative Invitatory psalm at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Hours. See the Liturgy of the Hours.
- On several Sundays as a responsorial psalm, including the Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year C).
- At thanksgiving celebrations, anniversaries and jubilees.
A prayer with Psalm 100
Written for this page:
Lord, I come into your presence with joy.
You made me; I am yours, a sheep of your flock.
I enter your courts with thanksgiving and bless your name,
for your mercy endures for ever. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
What does Jubilate Deo mean?
“Shout joyfully to God,” the first words of Psalm 100 in Latin.
Is “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord” Psalm 100?
Yes. That is the King James wording of the first verse; the Douay-Rheims has “Sing joyfully to God, all the earth.”
When is Psalm 100 prayed?
As a morning psalm of praise, at thanksgiving celebrations, and as an Invitatory in the Liturgy of the Hours.
Why are psalm numbers different in Catholic Bibles?
Older Catholic Bibles such as the Douay-Rheims follow the Greek and Latin numbering; modern Bibles follow the Hebrew, which is usually one number higher.
More psalms and prayers
- Psalms of thanksgiving
- Psalms of praise
- Psalm 150 (Praise the Lord in his holy places)
- Psalm 95 (Come, let us sing to the Lord)
- Psalm 118 (This is the day the Lord has made)
- Psalm 103
- Catholic prayers of gratitude
- Lauds (Morning Prayer)
- Te Deum
- How many psalms are there?
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 99 (100), Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.