Psalms 147:2-12

2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; he brings back the captured Israelites.

3 He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

4 He counts the stars and names each one.

5 Our Lord is great and very powerful. There is no limit to what he knows.

6 The Lord defends the humble, but he throws the wicked to the ground.

7 Sing praises to the Lord; praise our God with harps.

8 He fills the sky with clouds and sends rain to the earth and makes grass grow on the hills.

9 He gives food to cattle and to the little birds that call.

10 He does not enjoy the strength of a horse or the strength of a man.

11 The Lord is pleased with those who respect him, with those who trust his love.

12 Jerusalem, praise the Lord; Jerusalem, praise your God.

Psalms 147:2-12 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.