Psalms 148
148
PSALM 148
First Version
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
1Praise God. From heavens praise the Lord,
in heights praise to him be.
2All ye his angels, praise ye him;
his hosts all, praise him ye.
3O praise ye him, both sun and moon,
praise him, all stars of light.
4Ye heav'ns of heav'ns him praise, and floods
above the heavens' height.
5Let all the creatures praise the name
of our almighty Lord:
For he commanded, and they were
created by his word.
6He also, for all times to come,
hath them establish'd sure;
He hath appointed them a law,
which ever shall endure.
7Praise ye JEHOVAH from the earth,
dragons, and ev'ry deep:
8Fire, hail, snow, vapour, stormy wind,
his word that fully keep.
9All hills and mountains, fruitful trees,
and all ye cedars high:
10Beasts, and all cattle, creeping things,
and all ye birds that fly.
11Kings of the earth, all nations,
princes, earth's judges all:
12Both young men, yea, and maidens too,
old men, and children small.
13Let them God's name praise; for his name
alone is excellent:
His glory reacheth far above
the earth and firmament.
14His people's horn, the praise of all
his saints, exalteth he;
Ev'n Isr'el's seed, a people near
to him. The Lord praise ye.
Currently Selected:
Psalms 148: MP1650
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 148
148
Psalm 148#sn Psalm 148. The psalmist calls upon all creation to praise the Lord, for he is the creator and sovereign king of the world.
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the sky!
Praise him in the heavens!
2 Praise him, all his angels!#tn Or “heavenly messengers.”
Praise him, all his heavenly assembly!#tn Heb “all his host.”
3 Praise him, O sun and moon!
Praise him, all you shiny stars!#tn Heb “stars of light.”
4 Praise him, O highest heaven,
and you waters above the sky!#sn The “water” mentioned here corresponds to the “waters above” mentioned in Gen 1:7. See also Ps 104:3. For a discussion of the picture envisioned by the psalmist, see L. I. J. Stadelmann, The Hebrew Conception of the World, 47.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he gave the command and they came into existence.
6 He established them so they would endure;#tn Or “forever and ever.”
he issued a decree that will not be revoked.#tn Heb “and it will not pass away.”
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea creatures and all you ocean depths,
8 O fire and hail, snow and clouds,#tn In Ps 119:83 the noun refers to “smoke,” but here, where the elements of nature are addressed, the clouds, which resemble smoke, are probably in view.
O stormy wind that carries out his orders,#tn Heb “[that] does his word.”
9 you mountains and all you hills,
you fruit trees and all you cedars,
10 you animals and all you cattle,
you creeping things and birds,
11 you kings of the earth and all you nations,
you princes and all you leaders#tn Or “judges.” on the earth,
12 you young men and young women,
you elderly, along with you children!
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty extends over the earth and sky.
14 He has made his people victorious,#tn Heb “and he lifted up a horn for his people.” The horn of an ox underlies the metaphor (see Deut 33:17; 1 Kgs 22:11; Ps 92:10). The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “exalt/lift up the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 75:10; 89:17, 24; 92:10; Lam 2:17). Another option is to take the “horn” as a symbol for the Davidic king, through whom the Lord gives his people military victory.
and given all his loyal followers reason to praise –
the Israelites, the people who are close to him.#tn “[there is] praise for all his loyal followers, to the sons of Israel, the people near him.” Here “praise” stands by metonymy for the victory that prompts it.
Praise the Lord!
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
1996 - 2007 by Biblical Studies Press, LLC