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's good to sing praises to our God! Praise is wonderful and beautiful!
2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the exiles of Israel.
The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem, gathering together the people of Israel who have been scattered.
3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
He heals the broken-hearted, and bandages the wounded.
4 He determines the number of the stars; He calls them each by name.
He knows how many stars he made, and commands all of them by name.
5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.
Our Lord is great! His power is immense! There's no limit to what he understands!
6 The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground.
The Lord helps those who are bowed down to get up; but he grinds the wicked into the ground.
7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music on the harp to our God,
Sing thanks to the Lord! Sing praises to our God with a harp!
8 who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the hills.
He covers the sky with clouds to bring rain to the earth, and makes the grass grow on the hills.
9 He provides food for the animals, and for the young ravens when they call.
He gives food to the animals, and to the baby 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.
The Lord doesn't appreciate the strength of war-horses or value human power.
11 The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him, who hope in His loving devotion.
What the Lord values are those who follow him, those who put their confidence in his trustworthy love.
12 Exalt the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion!
Jerusalem, praise the Lord! Zion, praise your God!
13 For He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses the children within you.
He makes the bars on your city gates strong, and blesses your children around you.
14 He makes peace at your borders; He fills you with the finest wheat.
He keeps the borders of your land safe from attack; he provides you with plenty of the finest wheat.
15 He sends forth His command to the earth; His word runs swiftly.
He sends his commands around the world—they're quickly implemented.
16 He spreads the snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes;
He sends snow as white as wool, and scatters frost like ashes.
17 He casts forth His hail like pebbles. Who can withstand His icy blast?
He throws hail like stones. Who can stand the cold he sends?
18 He sends forth His word and melts them; He unleashes His winds, and the waters flow.
Then he sends out his command and it melts; he blows on it and the water flows.
19 He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel.
He proclaims his word to Jacob; his rules and laws to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know His judgments. Hallelujah!
He has not done this for any other nation—they don't know his laws. Praise the Lord!
