[1] Praise the LORD because he is good. Sing praises to our God. It is good and pleasant to praise him. [2] The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem. He brings back the Israelites who were taken as prisoners. [3] He heals their broken hearts and bandages their wounds. [4] He counts the stars and knows each of them by name. [5] Our Lord is great and powerful. There is no limit to what he knows. [6] The LORD supports the humble, but he shames the wicked. [7] Give thanks to the LORD. Praise our God with harps. [8] He fills the sky with clouds. He sends rain to the earth. He makes the grass grow on the mountains. [9] He gives food to the animals. He feeds the young birds that cry out. [10] War horses and powerful soldiers are not what he cares about. [11] The LORD enjoys people who worship him and trust in his faithful love. [12] Jerusalem, praise the LORD! Zion, praise your God! [13] He makes your gates strong, and he blesses the people in your city. [14] He brought peace to your country, so you have plenty of grain for food. [15] He gives a command to the earth, and it quickly obeys. [16] He makes the snow fall until the ground is as white as wool. He makes sleet blow through the air like dust. [17] He makes hail fall like rocks from the sky. No one can stand the cold he sends. [18] Then he gives another command, and warm air begins to blow. The ice melts, and water begins to flow. [19] He gave his commands to Jacob. He gave his laws and rules to Israel. [20] He did not do this for any other nation. He did not teach his laws to other people. Praise the LORD!
