Psalms 147

Psalm 147

Praise for God’s Care for Jerusalem

1Praise the Lord ![#Ps 33.1; 135.3]

How good it is to sing praises to our God,

for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.

2The Lord builds up Jerusalem;[#Deut 30.3; Ps 102.16]

he gathers the outcasts of Israel.

3He heals the brokenhearted[#Isa 30.26; 61.1]

and binds up their wounds.

4He determines the number of the stars;[#Isa 40.26]

he gives to all of them their names.

5Great is our Lord and abundant in power;[#Ps 48.1; Isa 40.28]

his understanding is beyond measure.

6The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;

he casts the wicked to the ground.

7Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;

make melody to our God on the lyre.

8He covers the heavens with clouds,[#Job 38.26; Ps 104.13]

prepares rain for the earth,

makes grass grow on the hills.

9He gives to the animals their food[#Job 38.41; Ps 104.27]

and to the young ravens when they cry.

10His delight is not in the strength of the horse[#1 Sam 16.7; Ps 33.16, 17]

nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner,

11but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,

in those who hope in his steadfast love.

12Extol the Lord , O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

13For he strengthens the bars of your gates;

he blesses your children within you.

14He grants peace within your borders;[#Ps 132.15; Isa 60.17; #147.14 Or prosperity]

he fills you with the finest of wheat.

15He sends out his command to the earth;[#Job 37.12; Ps 104.4]

his word runs swiftly.

16He gives snow like wool;[#Job 37.6; 38.29]

he scatters frost like ashes.

17He hurls down hail like crumbs—

who can stand before his cold?

18He sends out his word and melts them;[#Ps 33.9; 107.25]

he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.

19He declares his word to Jacob,[#Deut 33.2; Mal 4.4]

his statutes and ordinances to Israel.

20He has not dealt thus with any other nation;[#Deut 4.32]

they do not know his ordinances.

Praise the Lord !

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Published by: National Council of the Churches of Christ