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.
Give praise to the Lord; for it is good to make melody to our God; praise is pleasing and beautiful.
2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
The Lord is building up Jerusalem; he makes all the outlaws of Israel come together.
3 He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
He makes the broken-hearted well, and puts oil on their wounds.
4 He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names.
He sees the number of the stars; he gives them all their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.
Great is our Lord, and great his power; there is no limit to his wisdom.
6 The LORD upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground.
The Lord gives help to the poor in spirit; but he sends sinners down in shame.
7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our God,
Make songs of praise to the Lord; make melody to our God with instruments of music.
8 who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains.
By his hand the heaven is covered with clouds and rain is stored up for the earth; he makes the grass tall on the mountains.
9 He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call.
He gives food to every beast, and to the young ravens in answer to their cry.
10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
He has no delight in the strength of a horse; he takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.
The Lord takes pleasure in his worshippers, and in those whose hope is in his mercy.
12 Praise the LORD, Jerusalem! Praise your God, Zion!
Give praise to the Lord, O Jerusalem; give praise to your God, O Zion.
13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates. He has blessed your children within you.
He has made strong the iron bands of your doors; he has sent blessings on your children inside your walls.
14 He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat.
He gives peace in all your land, making your stores full of fat grain.
15 He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly.
He sends out his orders to the earth; his word goes out quickly.
16 He gives snow like wool, and scatters frost like ashes.
He gives snow like wool; he sends out ice-drops like dust.
17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can stand before his cold?
He sends down ice like raindrops: water is made hard by his cold.
18 He sends out his word, and melts them. He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
At the outgoing of his word, the ice is turned to water; when he sends out his wind, there is a flowing of waters.
19 He shows his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He makes his word clear to Jacob, teaching Israel his laws and his decisions.
20 He has not done this for just any nation. They do not know his ordinances. Praise the LORD!
He has not done these things for any other nation: and as for his laws, they have no knowledge of them. Let the Lord be praised.
