Psalms 147:1-6

1 Halelu-JAH: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for praise is pleasant and beautiful.

2 The LORD, he who builds up Jerusalem; shall gather together the outcasts of Israel.

3 He heals the broken hearted, and he binds up their wounds.

4 He counts the number of the stars and calls them all by their names.

5 Great is our Lord and of great power; his intelligence is infinite.

6 The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked down to the earth.

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.