147 <1> Praise the Lord because he is good.
Sing praises to our God.
It is good and pleasant to praise him.
<2> The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem.
He brings back the Israelites
who were taken as prisoners.
<3> He heals their broken hearts
and bandages their wounds.
<4> He counts the stars
and knows each of them by name.
<5> Our Master is very great.
He is very powerful.
There is no limit to what he knows.
<6> The Lord supports the humble,
but he embarrasses the wicked.
<7> Thank the Lord.
Praise our God with harps.
<8> He fills the sky with clouds.
He sends rain to the earth.
He makes the grass grow on the mountains.
<9> He gives food to the animals.
He feeds the young birds.
<10> War horses and powerful soldiers
don't make him happy.
<11> The Lord is happy with people
who worship him and trust in his faithful love.
<12> Jerusalem, praise the Lord!
Zion,[667] praise your God!
<13> Jerusalem, God makes your gates strong,
and he blesses the people in your city.
<14> He brought peace to your country,
so you have plenty of grain for food.
<15> He gives a command to the earth,
and it quickly obeys.
<16> He makes the snow fall
until the ground is white like wool.
He makes sleet blow through the air like dust.
<17> He makes hail fall
like rocks from the sky.
No one can stand the cold he sends.
<18> Then he gives another command,
and the warm air blows again.
The ice melts,
and water begins to flow.
<19> He gave his commands to Jacob.
He gave his laws and rules to Israel.[668]
<20> He did not do this for any other nation.
He did not teach his laws to other people.
Praise the Lord!
© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.