Psalm 99 is the 99th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "The reigneth; let the people tremble". The Book of Psalms starts the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and, as such, is a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system in the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible, and in the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 98, beginning "Dominus regnavit".Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 98 (99) medievalist.net It is the last of the set of additional Royal Psalms (Psalm 93–99), praising God as King of his people. There is no title in the Masoretic Text version, but the Septuagint provides a title: "A psalm of David".
The psalm forms a regular part of the Jewish liturgy, as well as the Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music, including by Heinrich Schütz, and has inspired hymns and contemporary songs.
Commentary
This psalm is the last of the "enthronement psalms" (Psalm 47, Psalm 93, and Psalms 96–99). It begins with the familiar statement "YHWH is king", followed by references to justice and righteousness (verse 4) and the covenant and its moral demands (verses 4 and 7), centering upon Zion (verse 2; "his holy mountain" in verse 9).
Some similarities with Deutero-Isaiah include the call for nations to tremble before God (verse 1). It is unique in naming Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, the "three great intercessors", and its feature of the threefold "Holy" (verses 3, 5, and 9), which repeated during the in Judaism.
Alexander Kirkpatrick links this and other royal psalms to the restoration of Israel following the Israelites' return from the Babylonian captivity.Kirkpatrick, A. (1906), Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges on Psalm 99, accessed 23 April 2022
Uses Judaism
The psalm is recited in its entirety as the fifth prayer of Kabbalat Shabbat in Ashkenazic, Hasidic, and some Sephardic communities' rites.The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 312 Verses 5 and 9 are recited in succession during the early part of .The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 62 These verses are also recited by the congregation when the Torah scroll is taken out of the ark.The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 141 Verse 6 is found in the foundation of repentance recited by some on the eve of Rosh Hashanah.The Complete Artscroll Machzor for Rosh Hashanah, page 13 According to Siddur Avodas Yisrael, Psalm 99 should be read in addition to Psalm 92 () on the Shabbat on which parashat Shemot is chanted.
Coptic Orthodox Church In the Agpeya, the Coptic Orthodox Church's book of hours, Psalm 99 is prayed in the office of None.
Musical settings Hymns Maria Luise Thurmair paraphrased Psalm 99 in the 1971 hymn in German "König ist der Herr".
Motets Heinrich Schütz set a German metred version of Psalm 98 in the Becker Psalter, published in 1628, Der Herr ist König und residiert, SWV 197.
Raymond Wilding-White set the psalm for eight-part choir and organ.
Songs The following songs are based on Psalm 99 or contain part of the psalm: "He sits enthroned" by Sons of Korah "Holy Is He" by Jason Silver "Issand on Siionis suur" (Lord is Great in Zion) by Rein Kalmus, was written for 2015 Estonian Christian Song Festival finale.
Text The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions.A 1917 translation directly from Hebrew to English by the Jewish Publication Society can be found here or here, and an 1844 translation directly from the Septuagint by L. C. L. Brenton can be found here. Both translations are in the public domain. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 98. #HebrewEnglishGreek 1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. 2 The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. 3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. 4 The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. 6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them. 7 He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. 8 Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. 9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy. Verse 5 Exalt the Lord our God, And worship at His footstool — He is holy.: New King James Version "God's footstool" may allude to 'the ark', 'the temple, Jerusalem', or 'the whole earth'. Alexander Kirkpatrick notes that "as there was no Ark in the Second Temple, the Temple itself must be meant here, or possibly Zion".
Verse 6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the Lord, and he answered them.: New Revised Standard Version English church commentator John Trapp noted that Moses, if not a priest as such, was "a continual intercessor for the people", and Aben-Ezra and Philo both include the term "priest" in their praise of Moses.Spurgeon, C. H., Psalm 99 in Treasury of David, accessed 6 August 2023
Notes
References
External links
The LORD is king, the peoples tremble; he is enthroned on the cherubim text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Psalm 99 / The Lord is king: let the peoples tremble; Church of England Hymns for Psalm 99 hymnary.org