Psalm 147

New International Reader’s Version

1 Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God! How pleasant and right it is to praise him!2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem. He gathers the scattered people of Israel.3 He heals those who have broken hearts. He takes care of their wounds.4 He decides how many stars there should be. He gives each one of them a name.5 Great is our Lord. His power is mighty. There is no limit to his understanding.6 The LORD gives strength to those who aren’t proud. But he throws evil people down to the ground.7 Sing to the LORD and give him grateful praise. Make music to our God on the harp.8 He covers the sky with clouds. He supplies the earth with rain. He makes grass grow on the hills.9 He provides food for the cattle. He provides for the young ravens when they cry out.10 He doesn’t take pleasure in the strength of horses. He doesn’t take delight in the strong legs of warriors.11 The LORD takes delight in those who have respect for him. They put their hope in his faithful love.12 Jerusalem, praise the LORD. Zion, praise your God.13 He makes the metal bars of your gates stronger. He blesses the people who live inside you.14 He keeps your borders safe and secure. He satisfies you with the finest wheat.15 He sends his command to the earth. His word arrives there quickly.16 He spreads the snow like wool. He scatters the frost like ashes.17 He throws down his hail like pebbles. No one can stand his icy blast.18 He gives his command, and the ice melts. He stirs up his winds, and the waters flow.19 He has made his word known to the people of Jacob. He has made his laws and rules known to Israel.20 He hasn’t done that for any other nation. They don’t know his laws. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 147

English Standard Version

1 Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant,[1] and a song of praise is fitting. (Ps 33:1; Ps 92:1; Ps 135:1; Ps 135:3)2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. (De 30:3; Ps 51:18; Ps 102:16; Isa 11:12; Isa 27:13; Isa 56:8; Eze 39:28)3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Ps 34:18; Eze 34:16)4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. (Ge 15:5; Isa 40:26)5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. (Job 5:9; Ps 48:1; Isa 40:28; Na 1:3)6 The Lord lifts up the humble;[2] he casts the wicked to the ground. (Ps 146:8)7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! (Ex 15:21; 1Ch 15:16; Ps 95:1)8 He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. (Job 5:10; Job 38:27; Ps 104:14)9 He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry. (Job 38:41; Ps 104:27)10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, (Ps 33:17)11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Ps 33:18; Ps 149:4)12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. (Ne 7:3)14 He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat. (Ex 34:24; De 32:14; Ps 81:16; Ps 132:15; Pr 16:7; Isa 60:17)15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. (Ps 148:8)16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. (Job 37:6; Job 38:29)17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? (Job 37:9; Job 37:10)18 He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. (Job 37:12; Ps 33:9; Ps 107:20; Ps 147:15)19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules[3] to Israel. (De 33:2; Ps 78:5; Mal 4:4)20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules.[4] Praise the Lord! (De 4:7; De 4:32; Ps 135:1)