< Psalms 147 >
1 Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and lovely to praise Him!
Praise the LORD, for it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and fitting to praise him.
2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the exiles of Israel.
The LORD builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars; He calls them each by name.
He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.
6 The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground.
The LORD upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground.
7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music on the harp to our God,
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our God,
8 who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the hills.
who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains.
9 He provides food for the animals, and for the young ravens when they call.
He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call.
10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legpower of the man.
He does not delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him, who hope in His loving devotion.
The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.
12 Exalt the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion!
Praise the LORD, Jerusalem! Praise your God, Zion!
13 For He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses the children within you.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates. He has blessed your children within you.
14 He makes peace at your borders; He fills you with the finest wheat.
He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sends forth His command to the earth; His word runs swiftly.
He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes;
He gives snow like wool, and scatters frost like ashes.
17 He casts forth His hail like pebbles. Who can withstand His icy blast?
He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can stand before his cold?
18 He sends forth His word and melts them; He unleashes His winds, and the waters flow.
He sends out his word, and melts them. He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19 He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel.
He shows his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know His judgments. Hallelujah!
He has not done this for just any nation. They do not know his ordinances. Praise the LORD!