Psalm 147

God Restores Jerusalem

Hallelujah!
How good it is to sing to our God,
for praise is pleasant and lovely.(A)

The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem;(B)
He gathers Israel’s exiled people.(C)
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.(D)
He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them.(E)
Our Lord is great, vast in power;
His understanding is infinite.[a](F)
The Lord helps the afflicted
but brings the wicked to the ground.(G)

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
play the lyre to our God,(H)
who covers the sky with clouds,
prepares rain for the earth,
and causes grass to grow on the hills.(I)
He provides the animals with their food,
and the young ravens, what they cry for.(J)

10 He is not impressed by the strength of a horse;
He does not value the power[b] of a man.(K)
11 The Lord values those who fear Him,
those who put their hope in His faithful love.(L)

12 Exalt the Lord, Jerusalem;
praise your God, Zion!(M)
13 For He strengthens the bars of your gates
and blesses your children within you.(N)
14 He endows your territory with prosperity;[c](O)
He satisfies you with the finest wheat.(P)

15 He sends His command throughout the earth;
His word runs swiftly.(Q)
16 He spreads snow like wool;
He scatters frost like ashes;(R)
17 He throws His hailstones like crumbs.
Who can withstand His cold?(S)
18 He sends His word and melts them;
He unleashes His winds,[d] and the waters flow.(T)

19 He declares His word to Jacob,
His statutes and judgments to Israel.(U)
20 He has not done this for any nation;
they do not know[e] His judgments.(V)
Hallelujah!

Psalm 148

Creation’s Praise of the Lord

Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise Him in the heights.(W)
Praise Him, all His angels;
praise Him, all His hosts.(X)
Praise Him, sun and moon;
praise Him, all you shining stars.(Y)
Praise Him, highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens.(Z)
Let them praise the name of Yahweh,
for He commanded, and they were created.(AA)
He set them in position forever and ever;
He gave an order that will never pass away.(AB)

Praise the Lord from the earth,
all sea monsters and ocean depths,(AC)
lightning[f] and hail, snow and cloud,
powerful wind that executes His command,(AD)
mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,(AE)
10 wild animals and all cattle,
creatures that crawl and flying birds,(AF)
11 kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all judges of the earth,(AG)
12 young men as well as young women,
old and young together.(AH)
13 Let them praise the name of Yahweh,
for His name alone is exalted.
His majesty covers heaven and earth.(AI)
14 He has raised up a horn for His people,
resulting in praise to all His godly ones,
to the Israelites, the people close to Him.(AJ)
Hallelujah!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 147:5 Lit understanding has no number
  2. Psalm 147:10 Lit legs
  3. Psalm 147:14 Or peace
  4. Psalm 147:18 Or breath
  5. Psalm 147:20 DSS, LXX, Syr, Tg read He has not made known to them
  6. Psalm 148:8 Or fire

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord.[a]

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

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;(C)
    he gathers the exiles(D) of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted(E)
    and binds up their wounds.(F)
He determines the number of the stars(G)
    and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord(H) and mighty in power;(I)
    his understanding has no limit.(J)
The Lord sustains the humble(K)
    but casts the wicked(L) to the ground.

Sing to the Lord(M) with grateful praise;(N)
    make music(O) to our God on the harp.(P)

He covers the sky with clouds;(Q)
    he supplies the earth with rain(R)
    and makes grass grow(S) on the hills.
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)

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord.[c](AU)

Praise the Lord from the heavens;(AV)
    praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;(AW)
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.(AX)
Praise him, sun(AY) and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens(AZ)
    and you waters above the skies.(BA)

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

Praise the Lord(BE) from the earth,
    you great sea creatures(BF) and all ocean depths,(BG)
lightning and hail,(BH) snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,(BI)
you mountains and all hills,(BJ)
    fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals(BK) and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings(BL) 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,(BM)
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendor(BN) is above the earth and the heavens.(BO)
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[d](BP)
    the praise(BQ) of all his faithful servants,(BR)
    of Israel, the people close to his heart.(BS)

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 147:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 20
  2. Psalm 147:20 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint nation; / he has not made his laws known to them
  3. Psalm 148:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 14
  4. Psalm 148:14 Horn here symbolizes strength.