Psalms 148:3-13

3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, shining stars.
4 Praise him, highest heavens, and the waters above the sky.
5 Let them all praise the name of the Lord! He commanded, and they were created;
6 by his command they were fixed in their places forever, and they cannot disobey.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, sea monsters and all ocean depths;
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds, strong winds that obey his command.
9 Praise him, hills and mountains, fruit trees and forests;
10 all animals, tame and wild, reptiles and birds.
11 Praise him, kings and all peoples, princes and all other rulers;
12 young women and young men, old people and children too.
13 Let them all praise the name of the Lord! His name is greater than all others; his glory is above earth and heaven.

Psalms 148:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 148

This psalm seems to have been written about the same time, and by the same person, as the preceding; even by the psalmist David, when he was in profound peace, and at rest from all his enemies; and the kingdom of Israel was in a well settled and prosperous condition, both with respect to things civil and ecclesiastical, as appears from Ps 148:14. And as it may respect future time, the times of the Messiah, of whom David was a type, it will have its accomplishment in the latter day, when there will be just occasion for all creatures, in heaven and earth, to praise the Lord; and which the Evangelist John, in vision, saw and heard them doing, Re 5:11-13. Aben Ezra says, this psalm is exceeding glorious and excellent, and has deep secrets in it; in which the psalmist speaks of two worlds, the upper and the lower. As for the title of this psalm, the Septuagint, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, and Apollinarius, entitle it as the two preceding.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. waters above the sky: [See Gn 1.6, 7.]
  • [b]. by his command . . . disobey; [or] he has fixed them in their places for all time, by a command that lasts forever.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.