Praise for God’s Goodness
147 Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God. For it is pleasing and praise is right. 2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He gathers those of Israel who had been taken away. 3 He heals those who have a broken heart. He heals their sorrows. 4 He knows the number of the stars. He gives names to all of them. 5 Great is our Lord, and great in power. His understanding has no end. 6 The Lord lifts up those who are suffering, and He brings the sinful down to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with thanks. Sing praises to our God on the harp. 8 He covers the heavens with clouds. He gives rain for the earth. He makes grass grow on the mountains. 9 He gives food to the animals, and to the young ravens that cry. 10 His joy is not in the strength of a horse. He does not find joy in the legs of a man. 11 But the Lord favors those who fear Him and those who wait for His loving-kindness.
12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 13 For He has made your gates strong. He has made good come to your children within you. 14 He makes peace within your walls. He fills you with the best grain. 15 He sends His Word to the earth. And His Word runs fast. 16 He gives snow like wool. He spreads ice like ashes. 17 He throws down His ice as hail stones. Who can stand before His cold? 18 He sends out His Word and melts them. He makes His wind blow and the waters flow. 19 He speaks His Word to Jacob, and His Law to Israel. 20 He has not done this with any other nation. They do not know His Law. Praise the Lord!