Psalm 147

In Praise of God the Almighty

147Praise the Lord!

It is good to sing praise to our God;

it is pleasant and right to praise him.

²The Lord is restoring Jerusalem;

he is bringing back the exiles.

³He heals the broken-hearted

and bandages their wounds.

⁴He has decided the number of the stars

and calls each one by name.

⁵Great and mighty is our Lord;

his wisdom cannot be measured.

⁶He raises the humble,

but crushes the wicked to the ground.

⁷Sing hymns of praise to the Lord;

play music on the harp to our God.

⁸He spreads clouds over the sky;

he provides rain for the earth

and makes grass grow on the hills.

⁹He gives animals their food

and feeds the young ravens when they call.

¹⁰His pleasure is not in strong horses,

nor his delight in brave soldiers;

¹¹but he takes pleasure in those who honour him,

in those who trust in his constant love.

¹²Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

¹³He keeps your gates strong;

he blesses your people.

¹⁴He keeps your borders safe

and satisfies you with the finest wheat.

¹⁵He gives a command to the earth,

and what he says is quickly done.

¹⁶He spreads snow like a blanket

and scatters frost like dust.

¹⁷He sends hail like gravel;

no one can endure the cold he sends!

¹⁸Then he gives a command, and the ice melts;

he sends the wind, and the water flows.

¹⁹He gives his message to his people,

his instructions and laws to Israel.

²⁰He has not done this for other nations;

they do not know his laws.

Praise the Lord!