Psalms 147
1 Hallelujah; for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is comely; [him] becometh praise.
Praise the Lord, for it's good to sing praises to our God! Praise is wonderful and beautiful!
2 The Lord buildeth up Jerusalem: the outcasts of Israel will he gather together;
The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem, gathering together the people of Israel who have been scattered.
3 He that healeth the broken-hearted, and bindeth up their hurts;
He heals the broken-hearted, and bandages the wounded.
4 Who counteth the number of the stars; who calleth them all by [their] names.
He knows how many stars he made, and commands all of them by name.
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power: his understanding is immeasurable.
Our Lord is great! His power is immense! There's no limit to what he understands!
6 The Lord helpeth up the meek: he bringeth down 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 Lift up a song unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises unto our God with the harp;
Sing thanks to the Lord! Sing praises to our God with a harp!
8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who causeth grass to grow upon the mountains;
He covers the sky with clouds to bring rain to the earth, and makes the grass grow on the hills.
9 Who giveth to the beast its food, to the young ravens which cry.
He gives food to the animals, and to the baby ravens when they call.
10 Not in the strength of the horse hath he delight: nor in the [swiftness of the] legs of man taketh he pleasure.
The Lord doesn't appreciate the strength of war-horses or value human power.
11 The Lord taketh pleasure in those that fear him, that wait for his kindness.
What the Lord values are those who follow him, those who put their confidence in his trustworthy love.
12 Glorify, O Jerusalem, the Lord: praise thy God, O Zion.
Jerusalem, praise the Lord! Zion, praise your God!
13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children in the midst of thee;
He makes the bars on your city gates strong, and blesses your children around you.
14 He who bestoweth peace in thy borders, who satisfieth thee with the best of wheat;
He keeps the borders of your land safe from attack; he provides you with plenty of the finest wheat.
15 He who sendeth forth his decree unto the earth: how swiftly speedeth his word along!
He sends his commands around the world—they're quickly implemented.
16 He who dispenseth snow like wool; who streweth about the hoarfrost like ashes;
He sends snow as white as wool, and scatters frost like ashes.
17 He who casteth down his ice like pieces: before his cold who can stand?
He throws hail like stones. Who can stand the cold he sends?
18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and waters run along.
Then he sends out his command and it melts; he blows on it and the water flows.
19 He declareth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances unto Israel.
He proclaims his word to Jacob; his rules and laws to Israel.
20 He hath not done so unto any nation: and [his] ordinances— these they know not. Hallelujah.
He has not done this for any other nation—they don't know his laws. Praise the Lord!
