Psalm 98, “Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: because he hath done wonderful things,” celebrates the salvation God has revealed to the whole world: “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” The Church sings it at Christmas, and Isaac Watts’s carol “Joy to the World” is a paraphrase of its second half. In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 97. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 98 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
A psalm for David himself. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: because he hath done wonderful things. His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, and his arm is holy.
The Lord hath made known his salvation: he hath revealed his justice in the sight of the Gentiles.
He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; make melody, rejoice and sing.
Sing praise to the Lord on the harp, on the harp, and with the voice of a psalm:
With long trumpets, and sound of cornet. Make a joyful noise before the Lord our king:
Let the sea be moved and the fulness thereof: the world and they that dwell therein.
The rivers shall clap their hands, the mountains shall rejoice together
At the presence of the Lord: because he cometh to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with equity.
Psalm 98 or Psalm 97?
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 97 is Psalm 98 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Cantate Domino canticum novum, quia mirabilia fecit. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- Wonderful deeds: God’s “right hand hath wrought for him salvation.” Christians see this fulfilled in Christ.
- Salvation for all nations: “he hath revealed his justice in the sight of the Gentiles.”
- Mercy and faithfulness: “He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel,” words that echo in Mary’s Magnificat.
- Music and joy: harp, trumpets and cornet; “Make a joyful noise before the Lord our king.”
- Creation applauds: “The rivers shall clap their hands, the mountains shall rejoice together” at the coming of the Lord.
How the Church uses Psalm 98
- At the Mass of Christmas Day, with the response “All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.” See Christmas Mass.
- On the Immaculate Conception (December 8): “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.” See the Immaculate Conception.
- On other Sundays, including the Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year B) and the Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C).
- In carols: “Joy to the World” (Isaac Watts, 1719) is a free paraphrase of verses 4 to 9.
A prayer with Psalm 98
Written for this page:
Lord, I sing you a new song, for you have done marvelous deeds.
You have shown your salvation to all the ends of the earth
in the birth, death and resurrection of your Son.
Let my whole life be a song of joy before you, my King. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Is “Joy to the World” based on a psalm?
Yes. Isaac Watts wrote it in 1719 as a Christian paraphrase of Psalm 98, reading it as a song about the coming of Christ.
What is the difference between Psalms 96 and 98?
Both begin “Sing to the Lord a new song” and both are sung at Christmas: Psalm 96 at Midnight Mass and Psalm 98 at the Mass during the Day.
More psalms and prayers
- Joy to the World
- Psalm 96
- Psalm 100
- Christmas Mass
- O Come, All Ye Faithful
- How many psalms are there?
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 97 (98), Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.