Verse 1
"Of David, a psalm. The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it."
David opens with a great declaration: the whole earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.
Not only nature, but every human being living in it — all are under His kingship and providence.
Verse 2
"For He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers."
The world belongs to the Lord because He founded and created it.
Even the seas and rivers, great forces of nature, are under His control — the world does not stand on its own, but by the will of the Lord.
Verse 3
"Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord, and who may stand in His holy place?"
David asks who is worthy to draw near to the holy place.
Drawing close to holiness is not merely outward — it requires inner purity, honesty, and clean character.
Verse 4
"He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to vanity and has not sworn deceitfully."
"Clean hands" means one does no wrong in his deeds, and "a pure heart" means his inner self is upright as well.
He does not use the Lord's name or his own soul in vain, and does not swear falsely or with deceit.
Verse 5
"He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."
Such a person merits a blessing from the Lord, who grants him righteousness and salvation — a relationship of mercy, closeness, and rescue.
The verse teaches that inner honesty and clean deeds bring true blessing.
Verse 6
"This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face — Jacob. Selah."
This is the generation that truly seeks the Lord.
These are people who seek the face of the Lord — closeness, truth, and holiness.
The people of Jacob draw near to the Lord with a clean heart.
Verse 7
"Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in."
David calls upon the gates to rise for the entrance of the King of glory — the revelation of the Lord's kingship in the world.
When holiness appears, the whole world must open and make room for the glory of the Lord.
Verse 8
"Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle."
The verse asks who the King of glory is, and answers: the Lord, strong and mighty, the victor in the battles of justice.
No kingship in the world compares to His kingship and His might.
Verse 9
"Lift up your heads, O gates, and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in."
The call repeats once more: it is not a king of flesh and blood who enters, but the King of glory.
The whole world is called to receive the Lord's kingship with awe.
Verse 10
"Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah."
The psalm ends with a clear answer: the Lord of hosts is the King of glory, who rules over all the hosts and all of reality.
The closing "Selah" seals this as an eternal truth: His kingship stands forever.