Psalm 147:1-11

1 Praise ye Jah! For [it is] good to praise our God, For pleasant -- comely [is] praise.

2 Building Jerusalem [is] Jehovah, The driven away of Israel He gathereth.

3 Who is giving healing to the broken of heart, And is binding up their griefs.

4 Appointing the number of the stars, To all them He giveth names.

5 Great [is] our Lord, and abundant in power, Of His understanding there is no narration.

6 Jehovah is causing the meek to stand, Making low the wicked unto the earth.

7 Answer ye to Jehovah with thanksgiving, Sing ye to our God with a harp.

8 Who is covering the heavens with clouds, Who is preparing for the earth rain, Who is causing grass to spring up [on] mountains,

9 Giving to the beast its food, To the young of the ravens that call.

10 Not in the might of the horse doth He delight, Not in the legs of a man is He pleased.

11 Jehovah is pleased with those fearing Him, With those waiting for His kindness.

Psalm 147:1-11 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.