HOW PLEASANT IT IS TO PRAISE GOD
Key verse: 1
NIV
Psalm 147
1 Praise the Lord.[a]
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;(C)
he gathers the exiles(D) of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted(E)
and binds up their wounds.(F)
4 He determines the number of the stars(G)
and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord(H) and mighty in power;(I)
his understanding has no limit.(J)
6 The Lord sustains the humble(K)
but casts the wicked(L) to the ground.
8 He covers the sky with clouds;(Q)
he supplies the earth with rain(R)
and makes grass grow(S) on the hills.
9 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
- Psalm 147:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 20
- Psalm 147:20 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint nation; / he has not made his laws known to them
Cross references
- Psalm 147:1 : S Ps 135:3
- Psalm 147:1 : Ps 33:1
- Psalm 147:2 : S Ps 51:18
- Psalm 147:2 : S Ps 106:47
- Psalm 147:3 : S Ps 34:18
- Psalm 147:3 : S Nu 12:13; S Job 5:18; Isa 1:6; Eze 34:16
- Psalm 147:4 : S Ge 15:5
- Psalm 147:5 : S Ps 48:1
- Psalm 147:5 : S Ex 14:31
- Psalm 147:5 : Ps 145:3; Isa 40:28
- Psalm 147:6 : S 2Ch 33:23; Ps 146:8-9
- Psalm 147:6 : Ps 37:9-10; 145:20
- Psalm 147:7 : Ps 30:4; 33:3
- Psalm 147:7 : S Ps 42:4
- Psalm 147:7 : S Ps 27:6
- Psalm 147:7 : S Ps 98:5
- Psalm 147:8 : S Job 26:8
- Psalm 147:8 : S Dt 11:14; S 32:2; S 2Sa 1:21; S Job 5:10
- Psalm 147:8 : S Job 28:26; S Ps 104:14
- Psalm 147:9 : S Ge 1:30; Ps 104:27-28; S Mt 6:26
- Psalm 147:9 : S Ge 8:7
- Psalm 147:10 : S 1Sa 16:7
- Psalm 147:10 : S Job 39:11; Ps 33:16-17
- Psalm 147:11 : S Ps 35:27
- Psalm 147:11 : Ps 33:18; 103:11
- Psalm 147:11 : Ps 119:43
- Psalm 147:11 : Ps 6:4
- Psalm 147:12 : Ps 48:1
- Psalm 147:13 : S Dt 33:25
- Psalm 147:13 : S Lev 25:21; Ps 128:5; 134:3
- Psalm 147:14 : S Lev 26:6; S 2Sa 7:10; S Isa 48:18
- Psalm 147:14 : S Ps 132:15
- Psalm 147:14 : S Dt 32:14
- Psalm 147:15 : Job 37:12; Ps 33:9; 148:5
- Psalm 147:15 : Isa 55:11
- Psalm 147:16 : Ps 148:8
- Psalm 147:16 : S Job 37:12; 38:29
- Psalm 147:17 : Ex 9:22-23; S Job 38:22; S Ps 78:47
- Psalm 147:18 : ver 15; Ps 33:9; 107:20
- Psalm 147:18 : S Ps 50:3
- Psalm 147:19 : S Ex 20:1; Ro 3:2
- Psalm 147:19 : Ps 78:5
- Psalm 147:19 : S Dt 33:4; Jos 1:8; 2Ki 22:8; Mal 4:4; Ro 9:4
- Psalm 147:20 : Dt 4:7-8, 32-34
- Psalm 147:20 : S Ps 79:6
- Psalm 147:20 : Ps 33:2; 103:1
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
He Heals the Brokenhearted
147 (A)Praise the Lord!
For (B)it is good to sing praises to our God;
for (C)it is pleasant,[a] and (D)a song of praise is fitting.
2 The Lord (E)builds up Jerusalem;
he (F)gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals (G)the brokenhearted
and (H)binds up their wounds.
4 He (I)determines the number of the stars;
he (J)gives to all of them their names.
5 (K)Great is our Lord, and (L)abundant in power;
(M)his understanding is beyond measure.
6 The Lord (N)lifts up the humble;[b]
he casts the wicked to the ground.
7 (O)Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on (P)the lyre!
8 He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares (Q)rain for the earth;
he makes (R)grass grow on the hills.
9 He (S)gives to the beasts their food,
and to (T)the young ravens that cry.
10 His delight is not in (U)the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
11 but the Lord (V)takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who (W)hope in his steadfast love.
12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he strengthens (X)the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
14 He (Y)makes peace in your borders;
he (Z)fills you with the (AA)finest of the wheat.
15 He (AB)sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives (AC)snow like wool;
he scatters (AD)frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his crystals of (AE)ice like crumbs;
who can stand before his (AF)cold?
18 He (AG)sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
his (AH)statutes and rules[c] to Israel.
20 He (AI)has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his rules.[d]
(AJ)Praise the Lord!
Footnotes
- Psalm 147:1 Or for he is beautiful
- Psalm 147:6 Or afflicted
- Psalm 147:19 Or and just decrees
- Psalm 147:20 Or his just decrees
Cross references
- Psalm 147:1 : See Ps. 135:1
- Psalm 147:1 : Ps. 92:1
- Psalm 147:1 : Ps. 135:3
- Psalm 147:1 : Ps. 33:1
- Psalm 147:2 : Ps. 51:18; 102:16
- Psalm 147:2 : Deut. 30:3; Isa. 11:12; 27:13; 56:8; Ezek. 39:28
- Psalm 147:3 : Ps. 34:18
- Psalm 147:3 : Ezek. 34:16
- Psalm 147:4 : [Gen. 15:5]
- Psalm 147:4 : Isa. 40:26
- Psalm 147:5 : Ps. 48:1
- Psalm 147:5 : Nah. 1:3
- Psalm 147:5 : Isa. 40:28; [Job 5:9]
- Psalm 147:6 : [Ps. 146:8, 9]
- Psalm 147:7 : Ex. 15:21; [Ps. 95:1, 2]
- Psalm 147:7 : See 1 Chr. 15:16
- Psalm 147:8 : See Job 5:10
- Psalm 147:8 : Ps. 104:14; Job 38:27
- Psalm 147:9 : Ps. 104:27, 28
- Psalm 147:9 : See Job 38:41
- Psalm 147:10 : Ps. 33:17
- Psalm 147:11 : Ps. 149:4
- Psalm 147:11 : Ps. 33:18
- Psalm 147:13 : Neh. 7:3
- Psalm 147:14 : Ex. 34:24; Prov. 16:7; Isa. 60:17, 18
- Psalm 147:14 : Ps. 132:15
- Psalm 147:14 : Ps. 81:16; Deut. 32:14
- Psalm 147:15 : [Ps. 148:8]
- Psalm 147:16 : Job 37:6
- Psalm 147:16 : [Job 38:29]
- Psalm 147:17 : Job 37:10
- Psalm 147:17 : Job 37:9
- Psalm 147:18 : ver. 15; [Job 37:12]; See Ps. 33:9; 107:20
- Psalm 147:19 : Mal. 4:4; [Ps. 78:5]; See Deut. 33:2-4
- Psalm 147:20 : Deut. 4:7; See Deut. 4:32-34
- Psalm 147:20 : See Ps. 135:1
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Praise the LORD! The LORD remembered and restored his people by rebuilding Jerusalem and returning the exiles to their homeland. He also remembers his covenant in Jesus with you and me and will completely restore us as well. Although the LORD is so great that he has counted and named each of the stars, he draws close to the brokenhearted and heals them. He sustains the humble while casting the wicked to the ground. Our majestic and infinite God cares deeply for each and every person.
Give thanks to God! The tender care of God covers all his creation. God sends rain to water the grass and provides food for all the birds and animals. His delight is not in the mighty, but in the humble. He delights in those who fear him and put their hope in his love.
Extol the LORD! God protects and provides for his people. He strengthened Jerusalem and blessed it with peace. Nothing happens without his knowledge and approval. God even commands the weather and it obeys his voice. The greatest blessing of all, however, is the gift of his word. God revealed his laws and decrees to Israel so that they could learn of his love and know his perfect will for their lives.
Prayer: Father, your praise brings joy to our hearts.
One Word: Sing praises to our God!
