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Psalm 146

Praise for God’s Help

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!(A)
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God all my life long.(B)

Do not put your trust in princes,
    in mortals, in whom there is no help.(C)
When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
    on that very day their plans perish.(D)

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God,(E)
who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;(F)
    who executes justice for the oppressed;
    who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;(G)
    the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.(H)
The Lord watches over the strangers;
    he upholds the orphan and the widow,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.(I)

10 The Lord will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!(J)

Psalm 147

Praise for God’s Care for Jerusalem

Praise the Lord!
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.(K)
The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
    he gathers the outcasts of Israel.(L)
He heals the brokenhearted
    and binds up their wounds.(M)
He determines the number of the stars;
    he gives to all of them their names.(N)
Great is our Lord and abundant in power;
    his understanding is beyond measure.(O)
The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;
    he casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
    make melody to our God on the lyre.
He covers the heavens with clouds,
    prepares rain for the earth,
    makes grass grow on the hills.(P)
He gives to the animals their food
    and to the young ravens when they cry.(Q)
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse
    nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner,[a](R)
11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
    in those who hope in his steadfast love.

12 Extol 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.(S)
15 He sends out his command to the earth;
    his word runs swiftly.(T)
16 He gives snow like wool;
    he scatters frost like ashes.(U)
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.(V)
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
    his statutes and ordinances to Israel.(W)
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
    they do not know his ordinances.
Praise the Lord!(X)

Footnotes

  1. 147.10 Heb legs of a person
  2. 147.14 Or prosperity

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise the Lord,(A) my soul.

I will praise the Lord all my life;(B)
    I will sing praise(C) to my God as long as I live.(D)
Do not put your trust in princes,(E)
    in human beings,(F) who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;(G)
    on that very day their plans come to nothing.(H)
Blessed are those(I) whose help(J) is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

He is the Maker of heaven(K) and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    he remains faithful(L) forever.
He upholds(M) the cause of the oppressed(N)
    and gives food to the hungry.(O)
The Lord sets prisoners free,(P)
    the Lord gives sight(Q) to the blind,(R)
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,(S)
    the Lord loves the righteous.(T)
The Lord watches over the foreigner(U)
    and sustains the fatherless(V) and the widow,(W)
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns(X) forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord.[b]

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    how pleasant(Y) and fitting to praise him!(Z)

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;(AA)
    he gathers the exiles(AB) of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted(AC)
    and binds up their wounds.(AD)
He determines the number of the stars(AE)
    and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord(AF) and mighty in power;(AG)
    his understanding has no limit.(AH)
The Lord sustains the humble(AI)
    but casts the wicked(AJ) to the ground.

Sing to the Lord(AK) with grateful praise;(AL)
    make music(AM) to our God on the harp.(AN)

He covers the sky with clouds;(AO)
    he supplies the earth with rain(AP)
    and makes grass grow(AQ) on the hills.
He provides food(AR) for the cattle
    and for the young ravens(AS) when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength(AT) of the horse,(AU)
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights(AV) in those who fear him,(AW)
    who put their hope(AX) in his unfailing love.(AY)

12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;(AZ)
    praise your God, Zion.

13 He strengthens the bars of your gates(BA)
    and blesses your people(BB) within you.
14 He grants peace(BC) to your borders
    and satisfies you(BD) with the finest of wheat.(BE)

15 He sends his command(BF) to the earth;
    his word runs(BG) swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow(BH) like wool
    and scatters the frost(BI) like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail(BJ) like pebbles.
    Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word(BK) and melts them;
    he stirs up his breezes,(BL) and the waters flow.

19 He has revealed his word(BM) to Jacob,(BN)
    his laws and decrees(BO) to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation;(BP)
    they do not know(BQ) his laws.[c]

Praise the Lord.(BR)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 146:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 10
  2. Psalm 147:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 20
  3. Psalm 147:20 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint nation; / he has not made his laws known to them