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A Call for the Universe to Praise God

148 Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from heaven,
    you that live in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels,
    all his heavenly armies.

Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, shining stars.
Praise him, highest heavens,
    and the waters above the sky.[a]

Let them all praise the name of the Lord!
He commanded, and they were created;
    by his command they were fixed in their places forever,
    and they cannot disobey.[b]

Praise the Lord from the earth,
    sea monsters and all ocean depths;
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
    strong winds that obey his command.

Praise him, hills and mountains,
    fruit trees and forests;
10 all animals, tame and wild,
    reptiles and birds.

11 Praise him, kings and all peoples,
    princes and all other rulers;
12 young women and young men,
    old people and children too.

13 Let them all praise the name of the Lord!
His name is greater than all others;
    his glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He made his nation strong,
    so that all his people praise him—
    the people of Israel, so dear to him.

Praise the Lord!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 148:4 See Gn 1.6, 7.
  2. Psalm 148:6 by his command … disobey; or he has fixed them in their places for all time, by a command that lasts forever.

148 1-5 Hallelujah!
Praise God from heaven,
    praise him from the mountaintops;
Praise him, all you his angels,
    praise him, all you his warriors,
Praise him, sun and moon,
    praise him, you morning stars;
Praise him, high heaven,
    praise him, heavenly rain clouds;
Praise, oh let them praise the name of God
    he spoke the word, and there they were!

He set them in place
    from all time to eternity;
He gave his orders,
    and that’s it!

7-12 Praise God from earth,
    you sea dragons, you fathomless ocean deeps;
Fire and hail, snow and ice,
    hurricanes obeying his orders;
Mountains and all hills,
    apple orchards and cedar forests;
Wild beasts and herds of cattle,
    snakes, and birds in flight;
Earth’s kings and all races,
    leaders and important people,
Robust men and women in their prime,
    and yes, graybeards and little children.

13-14 Let them praise the name of God
    it’s the only Name worth praising.
His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky;
    he’s built a monument—his very own people!

Praise from all who love God!
    Israel’s children, intimate friends of God.
Hallelujah!