Psalm 146

The Lord’s Care for the Lowly

1Praise the Lord!

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

2I will praise the Lord as long as I live.

I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.

3Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;

there is no help for you there.

4When they breathe their last, they return to the earth,

and all their plans die with them.

5But joyful are those who have the God of Israel*146:5 Hebrew of Jacob. See note on 44:4. as their helper,

whose hope is in the Lord their God.

6He made heaven and earth,

the sea, and everything in them.

He keeps every promise forever.

7He gives justice to the oppressed

and food to the hungry.

The Lord frees the prisoners.

8The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.

The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.

The Lord loves the godly.

9The Lord protects the foreigners among us.

He cares for the orphans and widows,

but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.

10The Lord will reign forever.

He will be your God, O Jerusalem,*146:10 Hebrew Zion. throughout the generations.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 147

The Lord Rebuilds Jerusalem

1Praise the Lord!

How good to sing praises to our God!

How delightful and how fitting!

2The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem

and bringing the exiles back to Israel.

3He heals the brokenhearted

and bandages their wounds.

4He counts the stars

and calls them all by name.

5How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!

His understanding is beyond comprehension!

6The Lord supports the humble,

but he brings the wicked down into the dust.

7Sing out your thanks to the Lord;

sing praises to our God with a harp.

8He covers the heavens with clouds,

provides rain for the earth,

and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.

9He gives food to the wild animals

and feeds the young ravens when they cry.

10He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse

or in human might.

11No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him,

those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

12Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

13For he has strengthened the bars of your gates

and blessed your children within your walls.

14He sends peace across your nation

and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat.

15He sends his orders to the world—

how swiftly his word flies!

16He sends the snow like white wool;

he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.

17He hurls the hail like stones.*147:17 Hebrew like bread crumbs.

Who can stand against his freezing cold?

18Then, at his command, it all melts.

He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.

19He has revealed his words to Jacob,

his decrees and regulations to Israel.

20He has not done this for any other nation;

they do not know his regulations.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 148

Praise from All Creation

1Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens!

Praise him from the skies!

2Praise him, all his angels!

Praise him, all the armies of heaven!

3Praise him, sun and moon!

Praise him, all you twinkling stars!

4Praise him, skies above!

Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!

5Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,

for he issued his command, and they came into being.

6He set them in place forever and ever.

His decree will never be revoked.

7Praise the Lord from the earth,

you creatures of the ocean depths,

8fire and hail, snow and clouds,*148:8 Or mist, or smoke.

wind and weather that obey him,

9mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars,

10wild animals and all livestock,

small scurrying animals and birds,

11kings of the earth and all people,

rulers and judges of the earth,

12young men and young women,

old men and children.

13Let them all praise the name of the Lord.

For his name is very great;

his glory towers over the earth and heaven!

14He has made his people strong,

honoring his faithful ones—

the people of Israel who are close to him.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 149

The Lord Delights in His People

1Praise the Lord!

Sing to the Lord a new song.

Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful.

2O Israel, rejoice in your Maker.

O people of Jerusalem,*149:2 Hebrew Zion. exult in your King.

3Praise his name with dancing,

accompanied by tambourine and harp.

4For the Lord delights in his people;

he crowns the humble with victory.

5Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them.

Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds.

6Let the praises of God be in their mouths,

and a sharp sword in their hands—

7to execute vengeance on the nations

and punishment on the peoples,

8to bind their kings with shackles

and their leaders with iron chains,

9to execute the judgment written against them.

This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 150

Praise with Musical Instruments

1Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heaven!

2Praise him for his mighty works;

praise his unequaled greatness!

3Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;

praise him with the lyre and harp!

4Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;

praise him with strings and flutes!

5Praise him with a clash of cymbals;

praise him with loud clanging cymbals.

6Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!

Praise the Lord!