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Praise for God’s Goodness

147 Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God. For it is pleasing and praise is right. The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He gathers those of Israel who had been taken away. He heals those who have a broken heart. He heals their sorrows. He knows the number of the stars. He gives names to all of them. Great is our Lord, and great in power. His understanding has no end. The Lord lifts up those who are suffering, and He brings the sinful down to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with thanks. Sing praises to our God on the harp. He covers the heavens with clouds. He gives rain for the earth. He makes grass grow on the mountains. He gives food to the animals, and to the young ravens that cry. 10 His joy is not in the strength of a horse. He does not find joy in the legs of a man. 11 But the Lord favors those who fear Him and those who wait for His loving-kindness.

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 13 For He has made your gates strong. He has made good come to your children within you. 14 He makes peace within your walls. He fills you with the best grain. 15 He sends His Word to the earth. And His Word runs fast. 16 He gives snow like wool. He spreads ice like ashes. 17 He throws down His ice as hail stones. Who can stand before His cold? 18 He sends out His Word and melts them. He makes His wind blow and the waters flow. 19 He speaks His Word to Jacob, and His Law to Israel. 20 He has not done this with any other nation. They do not know His Law. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord.[a]

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    how pleasant(A) and fitting to praise him!(B)

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;(C)
    he gathers the exiles(D) of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted(E)
    and binds up their wounds.(F)
He determines the number of the stars(G)
    and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord(H) and mighty in power;(I)
    his understanding has no limit.(J)
The Lord sustains the humble(K)
    but casts the wicked(L) to the ground.

Sing to the Lord(M) with grateful praise;(N)
    make music(O) to our God on the harp.(P)

He covers the sky with clouds;(Q)
    he supplies the earth with rain(R)
    and makes grass grow(S) on the hills.
He provides food(T) for the cattle
    and for the young ravens(U) when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength(V) of the horse,(W)
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights(X) in those who fear him,(Y)
    who put their hope(Z) in his unfailing love.(AA)

12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;(AB)
    praise your God, Zion.

13 He strengthens the bars of your gates(AC)
    and blesses your people(AD) within you.
14 He grants peace(AE) to your borders
    and satisfies you(AF) with the finest of wheat.(AG)

15 He sends his command(AH) to the earth;
    his word runs(AI) swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow(AJ) like wool
    and scatters the frost(AK) like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail(AL) like pebbles.
    Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word(AM) and melts them;
    he stirs up his breezes,(AN) and the waters flow.

19 He has revealed his word(AO) to Jacob,(AP)
    his laws and decrees(AQ) to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation;(AR)
    they do not know(AS) his laws.[b]

Praise the Lord.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 147:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 20
  2. Psalm 147:20 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint nation; / he has not made his laws known to them