Praise to God for His Word and Providence

147 Praise[a] the Lord!
For (A)it is good to sing praises to our God;
(B)For it is pleasant, and (C)praise is beautiful.

The Lord (D)builds up Jerusalem;
(E)He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
(F)He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their [b]wounds.
(G)He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.
(H)Great is our Lord, and (I)mighty in power;
(J)His understanding is infinite.
(K)The Lord lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises on the harp to our God,
(L)Who covers the heavens with clouds,
Who prepares rain for the earth,
Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.
(M)He gives to the beast its food,
And (N)to the young ravens that cry.

10 (O)He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy.

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your children within you.
14 (P)He makes peace in your borders,
And (Q)fills you with [c]the finest wheat.

15 (R)He sends out His command to the earth;
His word runs very swiftly.
16 (S)He gives snow like wool;
He scatters the frost like ashes;
17 He casts out His hail like [d]morsels;
Who can stand before His cold?
18 (T)He sends out His word and melts them;
He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.

19 (U)He declares His word to Jacob,
(V)His statutes and His judgments to Israel.
20 (W)He has not dealt thus with any nation;
And as for His judgments, they have not known them.

[e]Praise the Lord!

Praise to the Lord from Creation

148 Praise[f] the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all you stars of light!
Praise Him, (X)you heavens of heavens,
And (Y)you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For (Z)He commanded and they were created.
(AA)He also established them forever and ever;
He made a decree which shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
(AB)You great sea creatures and all the depths;
Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
(AC)Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;
10 Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl;
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
12 Both young men and maidens;
Old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For His (AD)name alone is exalted;
His glory is above the earth and heaven.
14 And He (AE)has exalted the [g]horn of His people,
The praise of (AF)all His saints—
Of the children of Israel,
(AG)A people near to Him.

[h]Praise the Lord!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 147:1 Heb. Hallelujah
  2. Psalm 147:3 Lit. sorrows
  3. Psalm 147:14 Lit. fat of wheat
  4. Psalm 147:17 fragments of food
  5. Psalm 147:20 Heb. Hallelujah
  6. Psalm 148:1 Heb. Hallelujah
  7. Psalm 148:14 Strength or dominion
  8. Psalm 148:14 Heb. Hallelujah

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord.[a]

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

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;(C)
    he gathers the exiles(D) of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted(E)
    and binds up their wounds.(F)
He determines the number of the stars(G)
    and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord(H) and mighty in power;(I)
    his understanding has no limit.(J)
The Lord sustains the humble(K)
    but casts the wicked(L) to the ground.

Sing to the Lord(M) with grateful praise;(N)
    make music(O) to our God on the harp.(P)

He covers the sky with clouds;(Q)
    he supplies the earth with rain(R)
    and makes grass grow(S) on the hills.
He provides food(T) for the cattle
    and for the young ravens(U) when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength(V) of the horse,(W)
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights(X) in those who fear him,(Y)
    who put their hope(Z) in his unfailing love.(AA)

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

13 He strengthens the bars of your gates(AC)
    and blesses your people(AD) within you.
14 He grants peace(AE) to your borders
    and satisfies you(AF) with the finest of wheat.(AG)

15 He sends his command(AH) to the earth;
    his word runs(AI) swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow(AJ) like wool
    and scatters the frost(AK) like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail(AL) like pebbles.
    Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word(AM) and melts them;
    he stirs up his breezes,(AN) and the waters flow.

19 He has revealed his word(AO) to Jacob,(AP)
    his laws and decrees(AQ) to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation;(AR)
    they do not know(AS) his laws.[b]

Praise the Lord.(AT)

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord.[c](AU)

Praise the Lord from the heavens;(AV)
    praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;(AW)
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.(AX)
Praise him, sun(AY) and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens(AZ)
    and you waters above the skies.(BA)

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

Praise the Lord(BE) from the earth,
    you great sea creatures(BF) and all ocean depths,(BG)
lightning and hail,(BH) snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,(BI)
you mountains and all hills,(BJ)
    fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals(BK) and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings(BL) 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,(BM)
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendor(BN) is above the earth and the heavens.(BO)
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[d](BP)
    the praise(BQ) of all his faithful servants,(BR)
    of Israel, the people close to his heart.(BS)

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 147:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 20
  2. Psalm 147:20 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint nation; / he has not made his laws known to them
  3. Psalm 148:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 14
  4. Psalm 148:14 Horn here symbolizes strength.