Psalm 147

1 Hallelujah! It's a good thing to sing praise to our God; praise is beautiful, praise is fitting.

2 God's the one who rebuilds Jerusalem, who regathers Israel's scattered exiles.3 He heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds.4 He counts the stars and assigns each a name.5 Our Lord is great, with limitless strength; we'll never comprehend what he knows and does6 God puts the fallen on their feet again and pushes the wicked into the ditch.

7 Sing to God a thanksgiving hymn, play music on your instruments to God,8 Who fills the sky with clouds, preparing rain for the earth, Then turning the mountains green with grass,9 feeding both cattle and crows.10 He's not impressed with horsepower; the size of our muscles means little to him.11 Those who fear God get God's attention; they can depend on his strength.

12 Jerusalem, worship God! Zion, praise your God!13 He made your city secure, he blessed your children among you.14 He keeps the peace at your borders, he puts the best bread on your tables.15 He launches his promises earthward-how swift and sure they come!16 He spreads snow like a white fleece, he scatters frost like ashes,17 He broadcasts hail like birdseed-who can survive his winter?18 Then he gives the command and it all melts; he breathes on winter-suddenly it's spring!

19 He speaks the same way to Jacob, speaks words that work to Israel.20 He never did this to the other nations; they never heard such commands. Hallelujah!

Psalm 148

1 Hallelujah! Praise God from heaven, praise him from the mountaintops;2 Praise him, all you his angels, praise him, all you his warriors,3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, you morning stars;4 Praise him, high heaven, praise him, heavenly rain clouds;5 Praise, oh let them praise the name of God-he spoke the word, and there they were!

6 He set them in place from all time to eternity; He gave his orders, and that's it!

7 Praise God from earth, you sea dragons, you fathomless ocean deeps;8 Fire and hail, snow and ice, hurricanes obeying his orders;9 Mountains and all hills, apple orchards and cedar forests;10 Wild beasts and herds of cattle, snakes, and birds in flight;11 Earth's kings and all races, leaders and important people,12 Robust men and women in their prime, and yes, graybeards and little children.

13 Let them praise the name of God-it's the only Name worth praising. His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky;14 he's built a monument-his very own people! Praise from all who love God! Israel's children, intimate friends of God. Hallelujah!

Psalm 149

1 Hallelujah! Sing to God a brand-new song, praise him in the company of all who love him.2 Let all Israel celebrate their Sovereign Creator, Zion's children exult in their King.3 Let them praise his name in dance; strike up the band and make great music!4 And why? Because God delights in his people, festoons plain folk with salvation garlands!

5 Let true lovers break out in praise, sing out from wherever they're sitting,6 Shout the high praises of God, brandish their swords in the wild sword-dance -7 A portent of vengeance on the God-defying nations, a signal that punishment's coming,8 Their kings chained and hauled off to jail, their leaders behind bars for good,9 The judgment on them carried out to the letter-and all who love God in the seat of honor! Hallelujah!