Chapter 147

It Is Good to Sing Praises

¹Hallelujah!^a

How good it is to sing praises to our God,

how pleasant and lovely to praise Him!

²The LORD builds up Jerusalem;

He gathers the exiles of Israel.

³He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.

⁴He determines the number of the stars;

He calls them each by name.

⁵Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;

His understanding has no limit.

⁶The LORD sustains the humble,

but casts the wicked to the ground.

⁷Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;

make music on the harp to our God,

⁸who covers the sky with clouds,

who prepares rain for the earth,

who makes grass to grow on the hills.

⁹He provides food for the animals,

and for the young ravens when they call.

¹⁰He does not delight in the strength of the horse;

He takes no pleasure in the legpower of the man.

¹¹The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him,

who hope in His loving devotion.

¹²Exalt the LORD, O Jerusalem;

praise your God, O Zion!

¹³For He strengthens the bars of your gates

and blesses the children within you.

¹⁴He makes peace at your borders;

He fills you with the finest wheat.

¹⁵He sends forth His command to the earth;

His word runs swiftly.

¹⁶He spreads the snow like wool;

He scatters the frost like ashes;

¹⁷He casts forth His hail like pebbles.^b

Who can withstand His icy blast?

¹⁸He sends forth His word and melts them;

He unleashes His winds, and the waters flow.

¹⁹He declares His word to Jacob,

His statutes and judgments to Israel.

²⁰He has done this for no other nation;

they do not know His judgments.^c

Hallelujah!