Psalm 47 is a shout of joy at God’s kingship: “O clap your hands, all ye nations: shout unto God with the voice of joy… God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of trumpet.” The Church sings it on the Ascension, when Christ goes up to heaven and takes his throne as King of all the earth. In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 46. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 47 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, for the sons of Core.
O clap your hands, all ye nations: shout unto God with the voice of Joy,
For the Lord is high, terrible: a great king over all the earth.
He hath subdued the people under us; and the nations under our feet.
He hath chosen for us his inheritance the beauty of Jacob which he hath loved.
God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of trumpet.
Sing praises to our God, sing ye: sing praises to our king, sing ye.
For God is the king of all the earth: sing ye wisely.
God shall reign over the nations: God sitteth on his holy throne.
The princes of the people are gathered together, with the God of Abraham: for the strong gods of the earth are exceedingly exalted.
Psalm 47 or Psalm 46?
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 46 is Psalm 47 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Omnes gentes, plaudite manibus. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- Joy for every nation: all peoples are invited to applaud God’s reign.
- A great King: “the Lord is high, terrible: a great king over all the earth.”
- God goes up: “God is ascended with jubilee,” fulfilled when the risen Christ ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9).
- “Sing praises to our God”: the command is repeated again and again.
- God reigns over the nations: Abraham’s blessing reaches the whole world.
How the Church uses Psalm 47
- On the Ascension of the Lord, in all three years: “God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.” See the Ascension.
- In the old Roman Missal, “God is ascended with jubilee” was the offertory chant of the Ascension.
- In the Liturgy of the Hours.
A prayer with Psalm 47
Written for this page:
Lord Jesus, you ascended into heaven amid shouts of joy.
I clap my hands and sing praises to you, King of all the earth.
Draw my heart to where you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
and reign over all the nations in justice and peace. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Psalm 47 read on the Ascension?
Because it says “God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of trumpet,” which the Church applies to Christ’s Ascension into heaven.
Where is “Clap your hands, all you nations”?
Psalm 47:2 (46:2 in the Douay-Rheims).
More psalms and prayers
- Psalm 68 (Let God arise)
- Ascension of the Lord
- Psalm 110
- Psalm 96
- Psalms of praise
- How many psalms are there?
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 46 (47); Acts 1:9, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.