Psalm 147

1    Alleluia.

How good it is to make music for our God,  

how joyful to honour him with praise.

2    The Lord builds up Jerusalem  

    and gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

3    He heals the brokenhearted  

and binds up all their wounds.

4    He counts the number of the stars  

and calls them all by their names.

5    Great is our Lord and mighty in power;  

his wisdom is beyond all telling.

6    The Lord lifts up the poor,  

but casts down the wicked to the ground.

7    Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;  

make music to our God upon the lyre;

8    Who covers the heavens with clouds  

and prepares rain for the earth;

9    Who makes grass to grow upon the mountains  

and green plants to serve our needs.

10  He gives the beasts their food  

and the young ravens when they cry.

11  He takes no pleasure in the power of a horse,  

no delight in human strength;

12  But the Lord delights in those who fear him,  

who put their trust in his steadfast love.

13  Sing praise to the Lord, O Jerusalem;  

praise your God, O Zion;

14  For he has strengthened the bars of your gates  

and has blest your children within you.

15  He has established peace in your borders  

and satisfies you with the finest wheat.

16  He sends forth his command to the earth  

and his word runs very swiftly.

17  He gives snow like wool  

and scatters the hoarfrost like ashes.

18  He casts down his hailstones like morsels of bread;  

who can endure his frost?

19  He sends forth his word and melts them;  

he blows with his wind and the waters flow.

20  He declares his word to Jacob,  

his statutes and judgements to Israel.

21  He has not dealt so with any other nation;  

they do not know his laws.

    Alleluia.

 

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.

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