< Psalms 147 >
1 Praise the LORD, for it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and fitting to praise him.
Hallelujah. It is good to sing praise to our God, for praise is sweet and seemly.
2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
The Lord builds up Jerusalem, the outcasts of Israel he gathers.
3 He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
4 He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names.
He counts the numberless stars, he gives names to them all.
5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.
Great is our Lord, rich in power, and measureless is his wisdom.
6 The LORD upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground.
The Lord lifts up the down-trodden, the wicked he brings to the ground.
7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our God,
Sing songs of thanks to the Lord, and play on the lyre to our God.
8 who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains.
For he covers the sky with clouds, he prepares rain for the earth, makes grass to grow on the mountains.
9 He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call.
He gives the cattle their food the young ravens when they cry.
10 He doesn’t delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, his joy is not in the speed of a runner;
11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.
but the Lord has his pleasure in those who fear him, in those who wait for his kindness.
12 Praise the LORD, Jerusalem! Praise your God, Zion!
Praise the Lord, then, O Jerusalem: sing praise to your God, O Zion.
13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates. He has blessed your children within you.
For he strengthens the bars of your gates, and blesses your children within you.
14 He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat.
He brings peace to your borders, and choicest of wheat in abundance.
15 He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly.
He sends his command to the earth: his word runs very swiftly.
16 He gives snow like wool, and scatters frost like ashes.
Snow he gives like wool, frost he scatters like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can stand before his cold?
He casts forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
18 He sends out his word, and melts them. He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
He sends forth his word, and melts them: his wind blows the waters flow.
19 He shows his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and judgments to Israel.
20 He has not done this for just any nation. They don’t know his ordinances. Praise the LORD!
No other nation did he do this for, they know nothing of his judgments. Hallelujah.