David’s Praise

1  145 I lift you high in praise, my God, O my King!

and I’ll bless your name into eternity.

2  I’ll bless you every day,

and keep it up from now to eternity.

3  God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough.

There are no boundaries to his greatness.

4  Generation after generation stands in awe of your work;

each one tells stories of your mighty acts.

5  Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking;

I compose songs on your wonders.

6  Your marvelous doings are headline news;

I could write a book full of the details of your greatness.

7  The fame of your goodness spreads across the country;

your righteousness is on everyone’s lips.

8  God is all mercy and grace—

not quick to anger, is rich in love.

9  God is good to one and all;

everything he does is suffused with grace.

10–11  Creation and creatures applaud you, God;

your holy people bless you.

They talk about the glories of your rule,

they exclaim over your splendor,

12  Letting the world know of your power for good,

the lavish splendor of your kingdom.

13  Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal;

you never get voted out of office.

God always does what he says,

and is gracious in everything he does.

14  God gives a hand to those down on their luck,

gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.

15  All eyes are on you, expectant;

you give them their meals on time.

16  Generous to a fault,

you lavish your favor on all creatures.

17  Everything God does is right—

the trademark on all his works is love.

18  God’s there, listening for all who pray,

for all who pray and mean it.

19  He does what’s best for those who fear him—

hears them call out, and saves them.

20  God sticks by all who love him,

but it’s all over for those who don’t.

21  My mouth is filled with God’s praise.

Let everything living bless him,

bless his holy name from now to eternity!

1–2  146 Hallelujah!

O my soul, praise God!

All my life long I’ll praise God,

singing songs to my God as long as I live.

3–9  Don’t put your life in the hands of experts

who know nothing of life, of salvation life.

Mere humans don’t have what it takes;

when they die, their projects die with them.

Instead, get help from the God of Jacob,

put your hope in God and know real blessing!

God made sky and soil,

sea and all the fish in it.

He always does what he says—

he defends the wronged,

he feeds the hungry.

God frees prisoners—

he gives sight to the blind,

he lifts up the fallen.

God loves good people, protects strangers,

takes the side of orphans and widows,

but makes short work of the wicked.

10  God’s in charge—always.

Zion’s God is God for good!

Hallelujah!

1  147 Hallelujah!

It’s a good thing to sing praise to our God;

praise is beautiful, praise is fitting.

2–6  God’s the one who rebuilds Jerusalem,

who regathers Israel’s scattered exiles.

He heals the heartbroken

and bandages their wounds.

He counts the stars

and assigns each a name.

Our Lord is great, with limitless strength;

we’ll never comprehend what he knows and does.

God puts the fallen on their feet again

and pushes the wicked into the ditch.

7–11  Sing to God a thanksgiving hymn,

play music on your instruments to God,

Who fills the sky with clouds,

preparing rain for the earth,

Then turning the mountains green with grass,

feeding both cattle and crows.

He’s not impressed with horsepower;

the size of our muscles means little to him.

Those who fear God get God’s attention;

they can depend on his strength.

12–18  Jerusalem, worship God!

Zion, praise your God!

He made your city secure,

he blessed your children among you.

He keeps the peace at your borders,

he puts the best bread on your tables.

He launches his promises earthward—

how swift and sure they come!

He spreads snow like a white fleece,

he scatters frost like ashes,

He broadcasts hail like birdseed—

who can survive his winter?

Then he gives the command and it all melts;

he breathes on winter—suddenly it’s spring!

19–20  He speaks the same way to Jacob,

speaks words that work to Israel.

He never did this to the other nations;

they never heard such commands.

Hallelujah!

1–5  148 Hallelujah!

Praise God from heaven,

praise him from the mountaintops;

Praise him, all you his angels,

praise him, all you his warriors,

Praise him, sun and moon,

praise him, you morning stars;

Praise him, high heaven,

praise him, heavenly rain clouds;

Praise, oh let them praise the name of God—

he spoke the word, and there they were!

6  He set them in place

from all time to eternity;

He gave his orders,

and that’s it!

7–12  Praise God from earth,

you sea dragons, you fathomless ocean deeps;

Fire and hail, snow and ice,

hurricanes obeying his orders;

Mountains and all hills,

apple orchards and cedar forests;

Wild beasts and herds of cattle,

snakes, and birds in flight;

Earth’s kings and all races,

leaders and important people,

Robust men and women in their prime,

and yes, graybeards and little children.

13–14  Let them praise the name of God—

it’s the only Name worth praising.

His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky;

he’s built a monument—his very own people!

Praise from all who love God!

Israel’s children, intimate friends of God.

Hallelujah!

1–4  149 Hallelujah!

Sing to God a brand-new song,

praise him in the company of all who love him.

Let all Israel celebrate their Sovereign Creator,

Zion’s children exult in their King.

Let them praise his name in dance;

strike up the band and make great music!

And why? Because God delights in his people,

festoons plain folk with salvation garlands!

5–9  Let true lovers break out in praise,

sing out from wherever they’re sitting,

Shout the high praises of God,

brandish their swords in the wild sword-dance—

A portent of vengeance on the God-defying nations,

a signal that punishment’s coming,

Their kings chained and hauled off to jail,

their leaders behind bars for good,

The judgment on them carried out to the letter

—and all who love God in the seat of honor!

Hallelujah!