Lyrics
Verse 1
O sing unto the Lord a new song
For He has done marvelous things
His right hand and His holy arm
Have gotten Him the victory
Verse 2
The Lord has made known His salvation
His righteousness has He openly showed
In the sight of the heathen
O sing unto the Lord a new song
Verse 3
He has remembered His mercy
And His truth toward the house of Israel
All the ends of the earth
Have seen the salvation of our God
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
O Sing Unto The Lord is a setting of Psalm 98. The opening calls for a new song because the Lord has done marvelous things and His right hand and holy arm have won the victory. The second verse says He has made known His salvation and openly shown His righteousness in the sight of the nations, and the last verse says He has remembered His mercy and truth toward Israel and that the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of God.
The wording follows Psalm 98:1-3 closely, with the new song also found in Psalm 96:1. The salvation seen by all the earth fits Isaiah 52:10 and Luke 2:30-32. Because the text comes directly from Scripture, the song is easy to memorize and sing, and its tone is joyful, declarative and celebratory. Short, melodic lines in the older King James style give the song a traditional feel while keeping the focus on God's saving acts.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 98:1-3 The psalm calls for a new song because the Lord has made known His salvation.
- Psalm 96:1 The psalm calls for singing a new song to the Lord.
- Isaiah 52:10 All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of God.