Psalms 147:1-6

Praise to Yahweh for His Providence

1 Praise Yah. For [it is] good to sing praises [to] our God; for [it is] pleasant; praise is fitting.

2 Yahweh [is] building Jerusalem; he gathers [the] scattered ones of Israel.

3 [He is] the one who heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.

4 [He] counts [the] number of the stars; he gives names to all of them.

5 Great [is] our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is unlimited.

6 Yahweh helps the afflicted up; [he] brings [the] wicked down to [the] ground.

Psalms 147:1-6 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]. Hebrew hallelujah; here and v. 20