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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.

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord.[a](A)

Praise the Lord from the heavens;(B)
    praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;(C)
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.(D)
Praise him, sun(E) and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens(F)
    and you waters above the skies.(G)

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

Praise the Lord(K) from the earth,
    you great sea creatures(L) and all ocean depths,(M)
lightning and hail,(N) snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,(O)
you mountains and all hills,(P)
    fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals(Q) and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings(R) 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,(S)
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendor(T) is above the earth and the heavens.(U)
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[b](V)
    the praise(W) of all his faithful servants,(X)
    of Israel, the people close to his heart.(Y)

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 148:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 14
  2. Psalm 148:14 Horn here symbolizes strength.