Psalm 145

Praising God’s Greatness

A hymn of David.

I[a] exalt you, my God the King,
and bless your name forever and ever.(A)
I will bless you every day;
I will praise your name forever and ever.(B)

The Lord is great and is highly praised;(C)
his greatness is unsearchable.(D)
One generation will declare your works to the next
and will proclaim your mighty acts.(E)
I[b] will speak of your splendor and glorious majesty
and[c] your wondrous works.(F)
They will proclaim the power of your awe-inspiring acts,
and I will declare your greatness.[d](G)
They will give a testimony of your great goodness
and will joyfully sing of your righteousness.(H)

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and great in faithful love.(I)
The Lord is good to everyone;(J)
his compassion rests on all he has made.(K)
10 All you have made will thank you, Lord;
the[e] faithful will bless you.(L)
11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom
and will declare your might,(M)
12 informing all people of your mighty acts
and of the glorious splendor of your[f] kingdom.(N)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;
your rule is for all generations.(O)
The Lord is faithful in all his words
and gracious in all his actions.[g](P)

14 The Lord helps all who fall;
he raises up all who are oppressed.[h](Q)
15 All eyes look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.(R)
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.(S)

17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all his acts.(T)
18 The Lord is near all who call out to him,
all who call out to him with integrity.(U)
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry for help and saves them.(V)
20 The Lord guards all those who love him,
but he destroys all the wicked.(W)
21 My mouth will declare the Lord’s praise;
let every living thing
bless his holy name forever and ever.(X)

Psalm 146

The God of Compassion

Hallelujah!
My soul, praise the Lord.(Y)
I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing to my God as long as I live.(Z)

Do not trust in nobles,
in a son of man,[i] who cannot save.(AA)
When his breath[j] leaves him,
he returns to the ground;
on that day his plans die.(AB)

Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,(AC)
the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea and everything in them.(AD)
He remains faithful forever,(AE)
executing justice for the exploited
and giving food to the hungry.(AF)
The Lord frees prisoners.(AG)
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.(AH)
The Lord raises up those who are oppressed.[k](AI)
The Lord loves the righteous.(AJ)
The Lord protects resident aliens
and helps the fatherless and the widow,(AK)
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.(AL)

10 The Lord reigns forever;
Zion, your God reigns for all generations.(AM)
Hallelujah!

Psalm 147

God Restores Jerusalem

Hallelujah!
How good it is to sing to our God,
for praise is pleasant and lovely.(AN)

The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem;(AO)
he gathers Israel’s exiled people.(AP)
He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.(AQ)
He counts the number of the stars;
he gives names to all of them.(AR)
Our Lord is great, vast in power;
his understanding is infinite.[l](AS)
The Lord helps the oppressed
but brings the wicked to the ground.(AT)

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
play the lyre to our God,(AU)
who covers the sky with clouds,
prepares rain for the earth,
and causes grass to grow on the hills.(AV)
He provides the animals with their food,
and the young ravens what they cry for.(AW)

10 He is not impressed by the strength of a horse;
he does not value the power of a warrior.[m](AX)
11 The Lord values those who fear him,
those who put their hope in his faithful love.(AY)

12 Exalt the Lord, Jerusalem;
praise your God, Zion!(AZ)
13 For he strengthens the bars of your city gates
and blesses your children within you.(BA)
14 He endows your territory with prosperity;[n](BB)
he satisfies you with the finest wheat.(BC)

15 He sends his command throughout the earth;
his word runs swiftly.(BD)
16 He spreads snow like wool;
he scatters frost like ashes;(BE)
17 he throws his hailstones like crumbs.
Who can withstand his cold?(BF)
18 He sends his word and melts them;
he unleashes his winds,[o] and the water flows.(BG)

19 He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and judgments to Israel.(BH)
20 He has not done this for every nation;
they do not know his judgments.(BI)
Hallelujah!

Psalm 148

Creation’s Praise of the Lord

Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights.(BJ)
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly armies.(BK)
Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.(BL)
Praise him, highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens.(BM)
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded, and they were created.(BN)
He set them in position forever and ever;
he gave an order that will never pass away.(BO)

Praise the Lord from the earth,
all sea monsters and ocean depths,(BP)
lightning[p] and hail, snow and cloud,
stormy wind that executes his command,(BQ)
mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,(BR)
10 wild animals and all cattle,
creatures that crawl and flying birds,(BS)
11 kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all judges of the earth,(BT)
12 young men as well as young women,
old and young together.(BU)
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted.
His majesty covers heaven and earth.(BV)
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
resulting in praise to all his faithful ones,
to the Israelites, the people close to him.(BW)
Hallelujah!

Psalm 149

Praise for God’s Triumph

Hallelujah!
Sing to the Lord a new song,(BX)
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.(BY)
Let Israel celebrate its Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.(BZ)
Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with tambourine and lyre.(CA)
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;(CB)
he adorns the humble with salvation.(CC)
Let the faithful celebrate in triumphal glory;
let them shout for joy on their beds.(CD)

Let the exaltation of God be in their mouths[q]
and a double-edged sword in their hands,(CE)
inflicting vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,(CF)
binding their kings with chains
and their dignitaries with iron shackles,(CG)
carrying out the judgment decreed against them.
This honor is for all his faithful people.(CH)
Hallelujah!

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord

Hallelujah!
Praise God in his sanctuary.
Praise him in his mighty expanse.(CI)
Praise him for his powerful acts;(CJ)
praise him for his abundant greatness.(CK)

Praise him with the blast of a ram’s horn;(CL)
praise him with harp and lyre.(CM)
Praise him with tambourine and dance;(CN)
praise him with strings and flute.(CO)
Praise him with resounding cymbals;
praise him with clashing cymbals.(CP)

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.(CQ)
Hallelujah!

Footnotes

  1. 145:1 The lines of this poem form an acrostic.
  2. 145:5 LXX, Syr read They
  3. 145:5 LXX, Syr read and they will tell of
  4. 145:6 Alt Hb tradition, Jer read great deeds
  5. 145:10 Lit your
  6. 145:12 LXX, Syr, Jer; MT reads his
  7. 145:13 One Hb ms, DSS, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss omit The Lord is faithful in all his words and gracious in all his actions.
  8. 145:14 Lit bowed down
  9. 146:3 Or a mere mortal
  10. 146:4 Or spirit
  11. 146:8 Lit bowed down
  12. 147:5 Lit understanding has no number
  13. 147:10 Lit the legs of the man
  14. 147:14 Or peace
  15. 147:18 Or breath
  16. 148:8 Or fire
  17. 149:6 Lit throat

Psalm 145[a]

A psalm of praise. Of David.

I will exalt you,(A) my God the King;(B)
    I will praise your name(C) for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise(D) you
    and extol your name(E) for ever and ever.

Great(F) is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(G)
    his greatness no one can fathom.(H)
One generation(I) commends your works to another;
    they tell(J) of your mighty acts.(K)
They speak of the glorious splendor(L) of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[b](M)
They tell(N) of the power of your awesome works—(O)
    and I will proclaim(P) your great deeds.(Q)
They celebrate your abundant goodness(R)
    and joyfully sing(S) of your righteousness.(T)

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,(U)
    slow to anger and rich in love.(V)

The Lord is good(W) to all;
    he has compassion(X) on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you,(Y) Lord;
    your faithful people extol(Z) you.(AA)
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom(AB)
    and speak of your might,(AC)
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts(AD)
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.(AE)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,(AF)
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy(AG) in all he promises(AH)
    and faithful in all he does.[c]
14 The Lord upholds(AI) all who fall
    and lifts up all(AJ) who are bowed down.(AK)
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food(AL) at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires(AM) of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous(AN) in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.(AO)
18 The Lord is near(AP) to all who call on him,(AQ)
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires(AR) of those who fear him;(AS)
    he hears their cry(AT) and saves them.(AU)
20 The Lord watches over(AV) all who love him,(AW)
    but all the wicked he will destroy.(AX)

21 My mouth will speak(AY) in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature(AZ) praise his holy name(BA)
    for ever and ever.

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord.[d]

Praise the Lord,(BB) my soul.

I will praise the Lord all my life;(BC)
    I will sing praise(BD) to my God as long as I live.(BE)
Do not put your trust in princes,(BF)
    in human beings,(BG) who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;(BH)
    on that very day their plans come to nothing.(BI)
Blessed are those(BJ) whose help(BK) is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

He is the Maker of heaven(BL) and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    he remains faithful(BM) forever.
He upholds(BN) the cause of the oppressed(BO)
    and gives food to the hungry.(BP)
The Lord sets prisoners free,(BQ)
    the Lord gives sight(BR) to the blind,(BS)
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,(BT)
    the Lord loves the righteous.(BU)
The Lord watches over the foreigner(BV)
    and sustains the fatherless(BW) and the widow,(BX)
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns(BY) forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord.[e]

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    how pleasant(BZ) and fitting to praise him!(CA)

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;(CB)
    he gathers the exiles(CC) of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted(CD)
    and binds up their wounds.(CE)
He determines the number of the stars(CF)
    and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord(CG) and mighty in power;(CH)
    his understanding has no limit.(CI)
The Lord sustains the humble(CJ)
    but casts the wicked(CK) to the ground.

Sing to the Lord(CL) with grateful praise;(CM)
    make music(CN) to our God on the harp.(CO)

He covers the sky with clouds;(CP)
    he supplies the earth with rain(CQ)
    and makes grass grow(CR) on the hills.
He provides food(CS) for the cattle
    and for the young ravens(CT) when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength(CU) of the horse,(CV)
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights(CW) in those who fear him,(CX)
    who put their hope(CY) in his unfailing love.(CZ)

12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;(DA)
    praise your God, Zion.

13 He strengthens the bars of your gates(DB)
    and blesses your people(DC) within you.
14 He grants peace(DD) to your borders
    and satisfies you(DE) with the finest of wheat.(DF)

15 He sends his command(DG) to the earth;
    his word runs(DH) swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow(DI) like wool
    and scatters the frost(DJ) like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail(DK) like pebbles.
    Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word(DL) and melts them;
    he stirs up his breezes,(DM) and the waters flow.

19 He has revealed his word(DN) to Jacob,(DO)
    his laws and decrees(DP) to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation;(DQ)
    they do not know(DR) his laws.[f]

Praise the Lord.(DS)

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord.[g](DT)

Praise the Lord from the heavens;(DU)
    praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;(DV)
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.(DW)
Praise him, sun(DX) and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens(DY)
    and you waters above the skies.(DZ)

Let them praise the name(EA) of the Lord,
    for at his command(EB) they were created,
and he established them for ever and ever—
    he issued a decree(EC) that will never pass away.

Praise the Lord(ED) from the earth,
    you great sea creatures(EE) and all ocean depths,(EF)
lightning and hail,(EG) snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,(EH)
you mountains and all hills,(EI)
    fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals(EJ) and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings(EK) of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
    old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,(EL)
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendor(EM) is above the earth and the heavens.(EN)
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[h](EO)
    the praise(EP) of all his faithful servants,(EQ)
    of Israel, the people close to his heart.(ER)

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 149

Praise the Lord.[i](ES)

Sing to the Lord a new song,(ET)
    his praise in the assembly(EU) of his faithful people.

Let Israel rejoice(EV) in their Maker;(EW)
    let the people of Zion be glad in their King.(EX)
Let them praise his name with dancing(EY)
    and make music to him with timbrel and harp.(EZ)
For the Lord takes delight(FA) in his people;
    he crowns the humble with victory.(FB)
Let his faithful people rejoice(FC) in this honor
    and sing for joy on their beds.(FD)

May the praise of God be in their mouths(FE)
    and a double-edged(FF) sword in their hands,(FG)
to inflict vengeance(FH) on the nations
    and punishment(FI) on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters,(FJ)
    their nobles with shackles of iron,(FK)
to carry out the sentence written against them—(FL)
    this is the glory of all his faithful people.(FM)

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord.[j](FN)

Praise God in his sanctuary;(FO)
    praise him in his mighty heavens.(FP)
Praise him for his acts of power;(FQ)
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.(FR)
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,(FS)
    praise him with the harp and lyre,(FT)
praise him with timbrel and dancing,(FU)
    praise him with the strings(FV) and pipe,(FW)
praise him with the clash of cymbals,(FX)
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything(FY) that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which (including verse 13b) begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 145:5 Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text On the glorious splendor of your majesty / and on your wonderful works I will meditate
  3. Psalm 145:13 One manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text do not have the last two lines of verse 13.
  4. Psalm 146:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 10
  5. Psalm 147:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 20
  6. Psalm 147:20 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint nation; / he has not made his laws known to them
  7. Psalm 148:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 14
  8. Psalm 148:14 Horn here symbolizes strength.
  9. Psalm 149:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 9
  10. Psalm 150:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 6