Read Psalms 147 in the King James Bible (opens in a new tab)
Psalm 147 calls God’s people to praise the LORD because He is both tender and sovereign: He rebuilds Jerusalem, gathers the outcasts, and heals the brokenhearted. It lifts our eyes to His limitless understanding—He names the stars—yet shows His care in daily provision, giving food to beasts and strength to those who wait on Him. The psalm warns against misplaced confidence: God does not delight in human power, but in those who fear Him and hope in His mercy. It also highlights His authority over creation, sending snow, frost, and wind at His command. The chapter closes by stressing a covenant privilege: God has made His word, statutes, and judgments known to Jacob in a unique way, calling His people to live under that revealed truth with grateful praise.
Psalms 147:1 - 147:20
1 Praise ye the Lord: for [it is] good to sing praises unto our God; for [it is] pleasant; [and] praise is comely.
2 The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by [their] names.
5 Great [is] our Lord, and of great power: his understanding [is] infinite.
6 The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
7 Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
9 He giveth to the beast his food, [and] to the young ravens which cry.
10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
14 He maketh peace [in] thy borders, [and] filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sendeth forth his commandment [upon] earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, [and] the waters flow.
19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and [as for his] judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.