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Psalm 147

Praise for God’s Care for Jerusalem

Praise the Lord!
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.(A)
The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
    he gathers the outcasts of Israel.(B)
He heals the brokenhearted
    and binds up their wounds.(C)
He determines the number of the stars;
    he gives to all of them their names.(D)
Great is our Lord and abundant in power;
    his understanding is beyond measure.(E)
The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;
    he casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
    make melody to our God on the lyre.
He covers the heavens with clouds,
    prepares rain for the earth,
    makes grass grow on the hills.(F)
He gives to the animals their food
    and to the young ravens when they cry.(G)
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse
    nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner,[a](H)
11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
    in those who hope in his steadfast love.

12 Extol the Lord, O Jerusalem!
    Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
    he blesses your children within you.
14 He grants peace[b] within your borders;
    he fills you with the finest of wheat.(I)
15 He sends out his command to the earth;
    his word runs swiftly.(J)
16 He gives snow like wool;
    he scatters frost like ashes.(K)
17 He hurls down hail like crumbs—
    who can stand before his cold?
18 He sends out his word and melts them;
    he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.(L)
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
    his statutes and ordinances to Israel.(M)
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
    they do not know his ordinances.
Praise the Lord!(N)

Footnotes

  1. 147.10 Heb legs of a person
  2. 147.14 Or prosperity

In Praise of God the Almighty

147 Praise the Lord!

It is good to sing praise to our God;
    it is pleasant and right to praise him.
The Lord is restoring Jerusalem;
    he is bringing back the exiles.
He heals the broken-hearted
    and bandages their wounds.

He has decided the number of the stars
    and calls each one by name.
Great and mighty is our Lord;
    his wisdom cannot be measured.
He raises the humble,
    but crushes the wicked to the ground.

Sing hymns of praise to the Lord;
    play music on the harp to our God.
He spreads clouds over the sky;
    he provides rain for the earth
    and makes grass grow on the hills.
He gives animals their food
    and feeds the young ravens when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in strong horses,
    nor his delight in brave soldiers;
11 but he takes pleasure in those who honor him,
    in those who trust in his constant love.

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
    Praise your God, O Zion!
13 He keeps your gates strong;
    he blesses your people.
14 He keeps your borders safe
    and satisfies you with the finest wheat.

15 He gives a command to the earth,
    and what he says is quickly done.
16 He spreads snow like a blanket
    and scatters frost like dust.
17 He sends hail like gravel;
    no one can endure the cold he sends!
18 Then he gives a command, and the ice melts;
    he sends the wind, and the water flows.

19 He gives his message to his people,
    his instructions and laws to Israel.
20 He has not done this for other nations;
    they do not know his laws.

Praise the Lord!