[1] Praise the Lord! It is good to sing praises to our God. It is good and pleasant to praise him. [2] The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem. He brings back the scattered Israelites who were taken captive. [3] He heals the brokenhearted. He bandages their wounds. [4] He counts the stars and names each one. [5] Our Lord is great and very powerful. There is no limit to what he knows. [6] The Lord defends those who are not proud. But he throws the wicked to the ground. [7] Sing praises to the Lord. Praise our God with harps. [8] He fills the sky with clouds. He sends rain to the earth. He makes grass grow on the hills. [9] He gives food to cattle and to the little birds that call. [10] He is not pleased by the strength of a horse or the power of a man. [11] The Lord is pleased with those who fear him, with those who trust his love. [12] Jerusalem, praise the Lord. Jerusalem, praise your God. [13] He makes your city gates strong. He blesses the people inside. [14] He brings peace to your country. He fills you with the finest grain. [15] He gives a command to the earth, and it quickly obeys him. [16] He spreads the snow like wool. He scatters the frost like ashes. [17] He throws down hail like rocks. No one can stand the cold he sends. [18] Then he gives a command, and it melts. He sends the breezes, and the waters flow. [19] He gave his word to Jacob. He gave his laws and demands to Israel. [20] He didn't do this for any other nation. They don't know his laws. Praise the Lord!
