Psalm 147

GOD RESTORES JERUSALEM

1 Hallelujah!

How good it is to sing to our God,

for praise is pleasant and lovely.q

2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem;r

he gathers Israel’s exiled people.s

3 He heals the brokenhearted

and bandages their wounds.t

4 He counts the number of the stars;

he gives names to all of them.u

5 Our Lord is great, vast in power;

his understanding is infinite.D,v

6 The Lord helps the oppressed

but brings the wicked to the ground.w

7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;

play the lyre to our God,x

8 who covers the sky with clouds,

prepares rain for the earth,

and causes grass to grow on the hills.y

9 He provides the animals with their food,

and the young ravens what they cry for.z

10 He is not impressed by the strength of a horse;

he does not value the power of a warrior.E,aa

11 The Lord values those who fear him,

those who put their hope in his faithful love.ab

12 Exalt the Lord, Jerusalem;

praise your God, Zion!ac

13 For he strengthens the bars of your city gates

and blesses your children within you.ad

14 He endows your territory with prosperity;F,ae

he satisfies you with the finest wheat.af

15 He sends his command throughout the earth;

his word runs swiftly.ag

16 He spreads snow like wool;

he scatters frost like ashes;ah

17 he throws his hailstones like crumbs.

Who can withstand his cold?ai

18 He sends his word and melts them;

he unleashes his winds,G and the water flows.aj

19 He declares his word to Jacob,

his statutes and judgments to Israel.ak

20 He has not done this for every nation;

they do not know his judgments.al

Hallelujah!

Psalm 148

CREATION’S PRAISE OF THE LORD

1 Hallelujah!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;

praise him in the heights.a

2 Praise him, all his angels;

praise him, all his heavenly armies.b

3 Praise him, sun and moon;

praise him, all you shining stars.c

4 Praise him, highest heavens,

and you waters above the heavens.d

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for he commanded, and they were created.e

6 He set them in position forever and ever;

he gave an order that will never pass away.f

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,

all sea monsters and ocean depths,g

8 lightningA and hail, snow and cloud,

stormy wind that executes his command,h

9 mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars,i

10 wild animals and all cattle,

creatures that crawl and flying birds,j

11 kings of the earth and all peoples,

princes and all judges of the earth,k

12 young men as well as young women,

old and young together.l

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for his name alone is exalted.

His majesty covers heaven and earth.m

14 He has raised up a horn for his people,

resulting in praise to all his faithful ones,

to the Israelites, the people close to him.n

Hallelujah!