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The World Should Praise the Lord

148 Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the ·skies [heavens].
    Praise him ·high above the earth [in the heights].
Praise him, all you ·angels [messengers].
    Praise him, all ·you armies of heaven [his hosts; C the angelic army].
Praise him, sun and moon.
    Praise him, all you ·shining stars [L stars of light].
Praise him, ·highest heavens [L heaven of heavens]
    and you waters above the ·sky [heavens].
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    because ·they were created by his command [L he commands and they were created; Gen. 1].
He ·put them in place [L made them stand] forever and ever;
    he made a ·law [statute; requirement; ordinance] that will never ·change [pass].

Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you large sea ·animals [monsters; C like Leviathan; 74:12–17; 104:26; Gen. 1:21; Job 3:8; 41; Is. 27:1] and all the ·oceans [deeps],
·lightning [L fire] and hail, snow and ·mist [cloud; or smoke],
    and stormy winds that ·obey him [L do his word],
mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
    crawling animals and birds,
11 kings of the earth and all ·nations [peoples],
    princes and all ·rulers [judges] of the earth,
12 young men and women,
    old people and ·children [youth].

13 Praise the name of the Lord,
    because ·he [L his name] alone is ·great [exalted].
    ·He is more wonderful than [L His splendor is over] heaven and earth.
14 God has ·given his people a king [exalted/raised a horn over his people; C an animal’s horn symbolizes power].
    He should be praised by all ·who belong to him [his saints/loyal ones];
he should be praised by the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel], the people ·closest to his heart [L nearest to him].

Praise the Lord!

The Whole Creation Invoked to Praise the Lord.

148 [a]Praise [b]the Lord!
Praise the Lord (A)from the heavens;
Praise Him (B)in the heights!
Praise Him, (C)all His angels;
Praise Him, (D)all His heavenly armies!
Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all stars of light!
Praise Him, [c](E)highest heavens,
And the (F)waters that are above the heavens!
They are to praise the name of the Lord,
For (G)He commanded and they were created.
He has also (H)established them forever and ever;
He has made a (I)decree, and it will not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
(J)Sea monsters, and all the ocean (K)depths;
(L)Fire and hail, (M)snow and (N)clouds;
(O)Stormy wind, (P)fulfilling His word;
(Q)Mountains and all hills;
Fruit (R)trees and all cedars;
10 (S)Animals and all cattle;
(T)Crawling things and winged fowl;
11 (U)Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Rulers and all judges of the earth;
12 Both young men and virgins;
Old men and children.

13 They are to praise the name of the Lord,
For His (V)name alone is exalted;
His (W)majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 And He has (X)lifted up a horn for His people,
(Y)Praise for all His godly ones,
For the sons of Israel, a people (Z)near to Him.
[d]Praise [e]the Lord!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 148:1 Or Hallelujah!
  2. Psalm 148:1 Heb Yah
  3. Psalm 148:4 Lit heavens of heavens
  4. Psalm 148:14 Or Hallelujah!
  5. Psalm 148:14 Heb Yah