Psalm 29:1-4,9-10

Our responsorial psalm for today’s feast comes from Psalm 29, which proclaims the power and majesty of the Lord’s voice as it resounds over creation, especially over the waters, and affirms that the Lord reigns in glory and gives strength and peace to his people.

This psalm reflects the mystery we celebrate in the Baptism of the Lord, where the Father’s voice is heard over the waters of the Jordan, revealing Jesus as his beloved Son and inaugurating his saving mission.

Give to the LORD, you sons of God, give to the LORD glory and praise,

The psalm opens with a call to praise, expressed in the imperative — this is not a gentle invitation but a command.

Unlike most psalms, which address fellow human worshipers, this command is directed to the benei elim (“sons of God”), a term referring to heavenly beings such as angels or members of the divine assembly.

From the very first line, the scope of worship is cosmic: even the highest spiritual powers are summoned to acknowledge the LORD (Job 1:6; 2:1; Genesis 6:1–4; Deuteronomy 32:8; Psalm 82:1).

Give to the LORD the glory due his name; 

In Hebrew thought, a name expresses one’s essence. The divine name here is YHWH, the covenant name revealed to Israel. To give glory to God’s name is to recognize his holiness, his sovereignty, and his incomparable identity.

adore the LORD in holy attire.

Literally, “worship the LORD in holy array.” This could refer to priestly garments, the inner purity of the worshiper, or the radiant splendor of God’s own presence.

In every case, worship must correspond to God’s grandeur.

The voice of the LORD is over the waters, the LORD, over vast waters.

The psalm shifts from command to theophany. God’s “voice” (qol YHWH) thunders over the waters, a display of his sovereignty over creation and the forces of chaos.

Unlike the surrounding pagan cultures that attributed storms to Baal, the Canaanite storm and fertility god, the psalm boldly proclaims that it is YHWH whose voice commands the depths.

The voice of the LORD is mighty; the voice of the LORD is majestic.

The phrase qol YHWH (“voice of the LORD”) appears seven times, forming the rhythmic spine of the psalm. The repeated divine name saturates the poem, making God’s presence inescapable.

As in Genesis 1, God’s voice is not merely sound but effective power: creative, ordering, and awe‑inspiring.

This is why the Church prays this psalm on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, because on this occasion, this mighty voice of the Father let itself be heard.

The God of glory thunders, and in his temple all say, “Glory!”

Thunder is a classic biblical sign of divine manifestation, recalling Sinai where God revealed himself in storm and flame (Exodus 19:16).

Here, the “temple” may refer to the earthly sanctuary or to the cosmic temple of creation itself. All who dwell in God’s presence — angels and creation alike, including the benei elim — respond to his revelation with a single cry of praise.

This unites the divine assembly and creation itself in a universal act of worship.

The LORD is enthroned above the flood; the LORD is enthroned as king forever.

The psalmist evokes God’s dominion over the primordial waters, perhaps also alluding to the memory of the great flood (Genesis 6-9). YHWH is not threatened by chaos; he reigns above it with supreme authority.

His thunderous voice has silenced the forces of chaos, and now God reigns supreme forever as king of heaven and earth.