[1] Praise the LORD! Because it is good to sing praise to our God! Because it is a pleasure to make beautiful praise! [2] The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem, gathering up Israel’s exiles. [3] God heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. [4] God counts the stars by number, giving each one a name. [5] Our Lord is great and so strong! God’s knowledge can’t be grasped! [6] The LORD helps the poor, but throws the wicked down on the dirt! [7] Sing to the LORD with thanks; sing praises to our God with a lyre! [8] God covers the skies with clouds; God makes rain for the earth; God makes the mountains sprout green grass. [9] God gives food to the animals—even to the baby ravens when they cry out. [10] God doesn’t prize the strength of a horse; God doesn’t treasure the legs of a runner. [11] No. The LORD treasures the people who honor him, the people who wait for his faithful love. [12] Worship the LORD, Jerusalem! Praise your God, Zion! [13] Because God secures the bars on your gates, God blesses the children you have there. [14] God establishes your borders peacefully. God fills you full with the very best wheat. [15] God issues his command to the earth—God’s word speeds off fast! [16] God spreads snow like it was wool; God scatters frost like it was ashes; [17] God throws his hail down like crumbs—who can endure God’s freezing cold? [18] Then God issues his word and melts it all away! God makes his winds blow; the water flows again. [19] God proclaims his word to Jacob; his statutes and rules to Israel. [20] God hasn’t done that with any other nation; those nations have no knowledge of God’s rules. Praise the LORD!
