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.

Praise the Lord, for it's good to sing praises to our God! Praise is wonderful and beautiful!

2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem, gathering together the people of Israel who have been scattered.

3 He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.

He heals the broken-hearted, and bandages the wounded.

4 He counts the number of the stars. He calls 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 mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.

Our Lord is great! His power is immense! There's no limit to what he understands!

6 The LORD upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground.

The Lord helps those who are bowed down to get up; but he grinds the wicked into the ground.

7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our God,

Sing thanks to the Lord! Sing praises to our God with a harp!

8 who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains.

He covers the sky with clouds to bring rain to the earth, and makes the grass grow on the hills.

9 He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call.

He gives food to the animals, and to the baby ravens when they call.

10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

The Lord doesn't appreciate the strength of war-horses or value human power.

11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.

What the Lord values are those who follow him, those who put their confidence in his trustworthy love.

12 Praise the LORD, Jerusalem! Praise your God, Zion!

Jerusalem, praise the Lord! Zion, praise your God!

13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates. He has blessed your children within you.

He makes the bars on your city gates strong, and blesses your children around you.

14 He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat.

He keeps the borders of your land safe from attack; he provides you with plenty of the finest wheat.

15 He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly.

He sends his commands around the world—they're quickly implemented.

16 He gives snow like wool, and scatters frost like ashes.

He sends snow as white as wool, and scatters frost like ashes.

17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can stand before his cold?

He throws hail like stones. Who can stand the cold he sends?

18 He sends out his word, and melts them. He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

Then he sends out his command and it melts; he blows on it and the water flows.

19 He shows his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.

He proclaims his word to Jacob; his rules and laws to Israel.

20 He has not done this for just any nation. They do not know his ordinances. Praise the LORD!

He has not done this for any other nation—they don't know his laws. Praise the Lord!