Psalms 149

1 Praise Yahweh! Sing a new song to Yahweh, praise him whenever [his] faithful [people] gather together!

Praise the Lord! Sing a new song to the Lord! Praise him wherever his faithful followers gather!

2 [You] Israeli people, be glad because of [what God], who created you, [has done for you]! You people of Jerusalem, rejoice because of [what God] your king [has done for you]!

Let Israel celebrate their Creator; let the people of Zion be happy in their King.

3 Praise Yahweh by dancing, by beating/playing tambourines, and by playing harps to praise him!

Praise his nature with dancing; sing praises to him, accompanied by tambourine and harp.

4 Yahweh is pleased with his people; he honors humble [people] by helping them to defeat [their enemies].

For the Lord enjoys his people; he honors the oppressed with salvation.

5 God’s people should rejoice because they have won battles and they should sing joyfully all during the night!

Let the faithful celebrate how he honors them; let them sing happily even from their beds.

6 They [MTY] should shout loudly to praise God; but [they should also hold] sharp swords in their hands,

May their praises of God always be on their lips, a double-edged sword in their hands,

7 [ready to use them] to defeat the [soldiers of] nations [that do not worship God], and to punish the people [of those nations],

ready to take revenge on the nations, to punish the foreign peoples,

8 and to fasten the arms and legs of their kings and other leaders with iron chains,

to imprison their kings in shackles and their leaders in iron chains,

9 to judge [and punish] the people of those nations, like [God] wrote/declared [should be done]. It is (a privilege/an honor) for God’s faithful people to do that! Praise Yahweh!

to impose the judgment decreed against them. This is an honor for all his faithful followers. Praise the Lord!