Psalms 147:1-20

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! How beautiful it is when we sing our praises to the beautiful God, for praise makes you lovely before him and brings him great delight! YAHWEH builds up Jerusalem; he gathers up the outcasts and brings them home. He heals the wounds of every shattered heart. He sets his stars in place, calling them all by their names. How great is our God! There’s absolutely nothing his power cannot accomplish, and he has infinite understanding of everything. YAHWEH supports and strengthens the humble, but the ungodly will be brought down to the dust. Sing out with songs of thanksgiving to the Lord! Let’s sing our praises with melodies overflowing! He fills the sky with clouds, sending showers to water the earth so that the grass springs up on the mountain fields and the earth produces food for man. All the birds and beasts who cry with hunger to him are fed from his hands. His people don’t find security in strong horses, for horsepower is nothing to him. Manpower is even less impressive! YAHWEH shows favor to those who fear him, those who wait for his tender embrace. Jerusalem, praise the Lord! Zion, worship your God! For he has strengthened the authority of your gates. He even blesses you with more children. He’s the one who brings peace to your borders, feeding you the most excellent of fare. He sends out his orders throughout the world; his words run as swift messengers, bringing them to pass. He blankets the earth with glistening snow, painting the landscape with frost. Sleet and hail fall from the sky, causing waters to freeze before winter’s icy blast. Then he speaks his word and it all melts away; as the warm spring winds blow, the streams begin to flow. In the same way, he speaks his word to Jacob, and to Israel he brings his life-giving instruction. He has dealt with Israel differently than with any other people, for they have received his laws. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!