A common misinterpretation views 'terrible' solely as negative or cruel punishment, ignoring its biblical sense of awe-inspiring majesty and power; others might apply it legalistically to demand physical miracles today without regard for the psalm's historical context of Israel's exodus deliverance, or universalize it to endorse harsh human judgments as divine, detached from God's redemptive purpose.
Psalms 66:5
King James Version (1769)
5 Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
Psalms 66:5 invites believers to observe and marvel at God's mighty deeds, particularly His awesome power displayed in history toward humanity, such as the parting of the Red Sea or deliverance from enemies, emphasizing that God's interventions are both fearsome and praiseworthy, calling people to recognize His sovereignty and faithfulness in salvation and judgment as part of a larger psalm of thanksgiving for national deliverance.