Add parallel Print Page Options

Praise God Who Helps His People

147 Praise the Lord!

It is good to ·sing praises [make a psalm] to our God;
    it is pleasant and ·good [L fitting] to praise him.
The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem [51:18; 102:16; Is. 64:8–12];
    he ·brings back [gathers; assembles] the ·captured [scattered; dispersed] Israelites [C perhaps a reference to those who returned after the Babylonian exile; Deut. 30:1–4; Is. 11:12].
He heals the brokenhearted
    and ·bandages [binds up] their wounds.

He ·counts [L measures the number of] the stars
    and ·names [L assigns names to] each one [Is. 40:26].
Our Lord is great and very powerful.
    There is no limit to ·what he knows [L his understanding].
The Lord ·defends [supports] the ·humble [needy],
    but he throws the wicked to the ground.

Sing ·praises [thanksgiving] to the Lord;
    ·praise [make a psalm to] our God with harps.
He ·fills [covers] the ·sky [heavens] with clouds
    and ·sends [sets; establishes] rain to the earth
    and makes grass ·grow [sprout] on the ·hills [mountains].
He gives food to cattle
    and to the ·little birds [L young ravens] that call.

10 He ·is not impressed with [does not delight in] the strength of a horse,
    nor does he take pleasure in ·human might [L the thighs of a person].
11 The Lord ·is pleased with [takes pleasure in] those who ·respect [fear] him [Prov. 1:7],
    with those who ·trust [wait for; hope in] his ·love [loyalty].

12 Jerusalem, ·praise [celebrate] the Lord;
    ·Jerusalem [L Zion; C the location of the Temple], praise your God.
13 He ·makes your city gates strong [L strengthens the bars of your gates]
    and blesses your children ·inside [L within you].
14 He ·brings [sets] peace to your ·country [L boundaries]
    and ·fills [satisfies; satiates] you with the finest ·grain [wheat].

15 He ·gives a command [L sends forth his word] to the earth,
    and ·it quickly obeys him [L his word quickly runs].
16 He ·spreads [L gives] the snow like wool
    and scatters the frost like ashes.
17 He throws down hail like ·rocks [L morsels; bits; pieces].
    No one can stand ·the cold he sends [L before his cold].
18 Then he ·gives a command [L sends forth his word], and it melts.
    He sends the breezes, and the waters flow.

19 He ·gave [announced] his word to Jacob [C another name for Israel],
    his laws [statutes; requirements; ordinances] and ·demands [judgments] to Israel [Ex. 19–24].
20 He didn’t do this for ·any other [L all the] nation.
    They don’t know his ·laws [judgments].

Praise the Lord!

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)

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