Psalms

Chapter 147

It Is Good to Sing Praises

This psalm calls Jerusalem to hallelujah because it is good and fitting to sing praise to the LORD, who rebuilds the city, gathers the outcasts, heals the brokenhearted, counts the stars, and yet lifts up the humble while casting the wicked down. The praise then widens to celebrate the God who sends clouds, rain, grass, and food, who values those who fear him rather than displays of creaturely strength, and who has strengthened Zion with peace, provision, sovereign command over snow, hail, wind, and waters, and the distinctive gift of his word and judgments to Jacob.

Psalm 147 stands naturally within the Psalter's closing hallelujah sequence by joining cosmic rule to covenant care. After Psalm 146 praised the LORD's everlasting reign in acts of justice and mercy, Psalm 147 continues that praise by showing that the same God who governs stars and weather also rebuilds Jerusalem, feeds creatures, secures his people, and grants Israel the special privilege of his revealed word.

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Psalms 147

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vv. 1-20

It Is Good to Sing Praises

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H¹allelujah! ²The LORD builds up Jerusalem; ³He heals the brokenhearted ⁴He determines the number of the stars; ⁵Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; ⁶The LORD sustains the humble,

⁷Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; ⁸who covers the sky with clouds, ⁹He provides food for the animals, ¹⁰He does not delight in the strength of the horse; ¹¹The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him,

¹²Exalt the LORD, O Jerusalem; ¹³For He strengthens the bars of your gates ¹⁴He makes peace at your borders; ¹⁵He sends forth His command to the earth; ¹⁶He spreads the snow like wool; ¹⁷He casts forth His hail like pebbles. ¹⁸He sends forth His word and melts them; ¹⁹He declares His word to Jacob, ²⁰He has done this for no other nation;

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01vv. 1-20It Is Good to Sing PraisesThe psalm opens by declaring that praise is good and beautiful because the LORD rebuilds Jerusalem, gathers exiles, heals the brokenhearted, knows the stars by name, and favors the humble over the wicked. It then calls for thankful song to the God who governs clouds, rain, grass, and food, whose delight is not in visible strength but in those who fear him and hope in his steadfast love, before summoning Jerusalem and Zion to praise the LORD who secures their gates, fills them with peace, rules the weather by his command, and has uniquely given Jacob his word and judgments.