Psalm 146-147

Contemporary English Version

³ You can't depend on anyone,
    not even a great leader.
⁴ Once they die and are buried,
that will be the end
    of all their plans.

⁵ The Lord God of Jacob blesses
everyone who trusts him
    and depends on him.
^6 (A) God made heaven and earth;
he created the sea
    and everything else.
God always keeps his word.
⁷ He gives justice to the poor
    and food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free
⁸     and heals blind eyes.
He gives a helping hand
    to everyone who falls.
The Lord loves good people
⁹     and looks after strangers.
He defends the rights
of orphans and widows,
    but destroys the wicked.

¹⁰ The Lord God of Zion
will rule forever!
    Shout praises to the Lord!

⁷ Celebrate and sing!
Play your harps
    for the Lord our God.
⁸ He fills the sky with clouds
    and sends rain to the earth,
so that the hills
    will be green with grass.
⁹ He provides food for cattle
and for the young ravens,
    when they cry out.
¹⁰ The Lord doesn't care about
the strength of horses
    or powerful armies.
¹¹ The Lord is pleased only
with those who worship him
    and trust his love.

¹² Everyone in Jerusalem,
come and praise
    the Lord your God!
¹³ He makes your city gates strong
    and blesses your people.
¹⁴ God lets you live in peace,
and he gives you
    the very best wheat.

¹⁵ As soon as God speaks,
    the earth obeys.
¹⁶ He covers the ground with snow
    like a blanket of wool,
and he scatters frost
    like ashes on the ground.
¹⁷ God sends down hailstones
like chips of rocks.
    Who can stand the cold?
¹⁸ At his command the ice melts,
the wind blows,
    and streams begin to flow.

¹⁹ God gave his laws and teachings
to the descendants of Jacob,
    the nation of Israel.
²⁰ But he has not given his laws
to any other nation.
    Shout praises to the Lord!