HOW PLEASANT IT IS TO PRAISE GOD
Passage: Psalm 147:1~20  
Key verse: 1
Psalm 1471 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)
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
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!