Psalms 147:1-7

1 Praise ye Jah! for it is good. Sing psalms of our God; for it is pleasant: praise is comely.

2 Jehovah doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth the outcasts of Israel.

3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

4 He counteth the number of the stars; he giveth names to them all.

5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

6 Jehovah lifteth up the meek; he abaseth the wicked to the earth.

7 Sing unto Jehovah with thanksgiving; sing psalms upon the harp unto our God:

Psalms 147:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 147

This psalm is thought to be written by David, and according to Theodoret predicts the return of the Jews from Babylon, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem by Zerubbabel, which seems to be grounded on Ps 147:2; though the words there agree well enough with the times of David; hence the title in the Septuagint, Ethiopic, Arabic, and Syriac versions, and Apollinarius, is as the preceding; the Syriac adds,

``concerning Zerubbabel and Joshua the priest, and Ezra, who were solicitous and diligent in building Jerusalem.''

Aben Ezra and other Jewish writers think it foretells the future rebuilding of Jerusalem, and the restoration of the Jews from their present captivity, and refer it to the times of the Messiah; and so far it may be right, that it respects Christ and the praise of him, on account of his nature and works; and may take in the conversion of the Jews. It seems to be written by the same person, and on the same account, as the preceding psalm.

Footnotes

• [a]. 'Hallelujah:' see Ps. 68.4.
• [b]. See Ps. 30.12; 47.6; 138.1.