Psalm 147
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Psalm 147[a]
God’s Word Restores Jerusalem
1 Hallelujah!
I
How good to sing praise to our God;
how pleasant to give fitting praise.(A)
2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem,
and gathers the dispersed of Israel,(B)
3 Healing the brokenhearted,
and binding up their wounds.(C)
4 He numbers the stars,
and gives to all of them their names.(D)
5 Great is our Lord, vast in power,
with wisdom beyond measure.(E)
6 The Lord gives aid to the poor,
but casts the wicked to the ground.(F)
II
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
with the lyre make music to our God,(G)
8 [b]Who covers the heavens with clouds,
provides rain for the earth,
makes grass sprout on the mountains,(H)
9 Who gives animals their food
and young ravens what they cry for.(I)
10 [c]He takes no delight in the strength of horses,
no pleasure in the runner’s stride.(J)
11 Rather the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
those who put their hope in his mercy.
III
12 Glorify the Lord, Jerusalem;
Zion, offer praise to your God,
13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates,
blessed your children within you.(K)
14 He brings peace to your borders,
and satisfies you with finest wheat.(L)
15 [d]He sends his command to earth;
his word runs swiftly!(M)
16 Thus he makes the snow like wool,
and spreads the frost like ash;(N)
17 He disperses hail like crumbs.
Who can withstand his cold?
18 Yet when again he issues his command, it melts them;
he raises his winds and the waters flow.
19 He proclaims his word to Jacob,
his statutes and laws to Israel.(O)
20 He has not done this for any other nation;
of such laws they know nothing.
Hallelujah!
Footnotes
- Psalm 147 The hymn is divided into three sections by the calls to praise in Ps 147:1, 7, 12. The first section praises the powerful creator who restores exiled Judah (Ps 147:1–6); the second section, the creator who provides food to animals and human beings; the third and climactic section exhorts the holy city to recognize it has been re-created and made the place of disclosure for God’s word, a word as life-giving as water.
- 147:8–9 God clothes the fields and feeds the birds, cf. Mt 6:26, 30.
- 147:10–11 Acknowledging one’s dependence upon God rather than claiming self-sufficiency pleases God, cf. Ps 20:8; 33:16–19.
- 147:15–19 God speaks through the thunder of nature and the word of revealed law, cf. Is 55:10–11. The weather phenomena are well known in Jerusalem: a blizzard of snow and hail followed by a thunderstorm that melts the ice.
Psalm 147
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Psalm 147
Praise for God’s Care for Jerusalem
1 Praise the Lord!
How good it is to sing praises to our God;
for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted,
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
6 The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;
he casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds,
prepares rain for the earth,
makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He gives to the animals their food,
and to the young ravens when they cry.
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;[a]
11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.
12 Praise 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.
15 He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives snow like wool;
he scatters frost like ashes.
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.
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his ordinances.
Praise the Lord!
Footnotes
- Psalm 147:10 Heb legs of a person
- Psalm 147:14 Or prosperity
Psalm 147
Good News Translation
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.
2 The Lord is restoring Jerusalem;
he is bringing back the exiles.
3 He heals the broken-hearted
and bandages their wounds.
4 He has decided the number of the stars
and calls each one by name.
5 Great and mighty is our Lord;
his wisdom cannot be measured.
6 He raises the humble,
but crushes the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing hymns of praise to the Lord;
play music on the harp to our God.
8 He spreads clouds over the sky;
he provides rain for the earth
and makes grass grow on the hills.
9 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!
Psalm 147
New American Standard Bible
Praise for Jerusalem’s Restoration and Prosperity.
147 [a]Praise [b]the Lord!
For (A)it is good to sing praises to our God;
For [c]it is pleasant and praise is [d](B)beautiful.
2 The Lord (C)builds up Jerusalem;
He (D)gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the (E)brokenhearted
And (F)binds up their [e]wounds.
4 He (G)counts the number of the stars;
He [f](H)gives names to all of them.
5 (I)Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His (J)understanding is [g]infinite.
6 The Lord [h](K)supports the afflicted;
He brings the wicked down to the ground.
7 (L)Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises to our God on the lyre;
8 It is He who (M)covers the heavens with clouds,
Who (N)provides rain for the earth,
Who (O)makes grass sprout on the mountains.
9 It is He who (P)gives an animal its food,
And feeds (Q)young ravens that cry.
10 He does not delight in [i]the strength of the (R)horse;
He (S)does not take pleasure in the [j]legs of a man.
11 The Lord (T)favors those who fear Him,
(U)Those who wait for His [k]faithfulness.
12 Praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
Praise your God, Zion!
13 For He has strengthened the (V)bars of your gates;
He has (W)blessed your sons among you.
14 He (X)makes [l]peace in your borders;
He (Y)satisfies you with (Z)the [m]finest of the wheat.
15 He sends His (AA)command to the earth;
His (AB)word runs very swiftly.
16 He [n]showers (AC)snow like wool;
He scatters the (AD)frost like ashes.
17 He hurls His (AE)ice as fragments;
Who can stand before His (AF)cold?
18 He (AG)sends His word and makes them melt;
He (AH)makes His wind blow, and the waters flow.
19 He (AI)declares His words to Jacob,
His (AJ)statutes and His judgments to Israel.
20 He (AK)has not dealt this way with any other nation;
And as for His judgments, [o]they have (AL)not known them.
[p]Praise [q]the Lord!
Footnotes
- Psalm 147:1 Or Hallelujah!
- Psalm 147:1 Heb Yah
- Psalm 147:1 Or He is delightful
- Psalm 147:1 Or fitting
- Psalm 147:3 Lit pains
- Psalm 147:4 Or calls them all by their names
- Psalm 147:5 Lit innumerable
- Psalm 147:6 Or relieves
- Psalm 147:10 I.e., as a military asset
- Psalm 147:10 I.e., as a military asset
- Psalm 147:11 Or mercy
- Psalm 147:14 Lit your borders peace
- Psalm 147:14 Lit fat
- Psalm 147:16 Lit gives
- Psalm 147:20 I.e., the other nations
- Psalm 147:20 Or Hallelujah!
- Psalm 147:20 Heb Yah
Psalm 147
New International Version
Psalm 147
1 Praise the Lord.[a]
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;(C)
he gathers the exiles(D) of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted(E)
and binds up their wounds.(F)
4 He determines the number of the stars(G)
and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord(H) and mighty in power;(I)
his understanding has no limit.(J)
6 The Lord sustains the humble(K)
but casts the wicked(L) to the ground.
8 He covers the sky with clouds;(Q)
he supplies the earth with rain(R)
and makes grass grow(S) on the hills.
9 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)
Footnotes
- Psalm 147:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 20
- Psalm 147:20 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint nation; / he has not made his laws known to them
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