Psalms 147:2

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Praise to God for His Word and Providence

1 Praise¹ the Lord!
For ^ait is good to sing praises to our God;
^bFor it is pleasant, and ^cpraise is beautiful.

2 The Lord ^abuilds up Jerusalem;
^bHe gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

3 ^aHe heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their¹ wounds.

4 ^aHe counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.

5 ^aGreat is our Lord, and ^bmighty in power;
^cHis understanding is infinite.

6 ^aThe Lord lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.

7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises on the harp to our God,

8 ^aWho covers the heavens with clouds,
Who prepares rain for the earth,
Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.

9 ^aHe gives to the beast its food,
And ^bto the young ravens that cry.

10 ^aHe does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

11 The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy.

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!

13 For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your children within you.

14 ^aHe makes peace in your borders,
And ^bfills you with the finest wheat.

15 ^aHe sends out His command to the earth;
His word runs very swiftly.

16 ^aHe gives snow like wool;
He scatters the frost like ashes;

17 He casts out His hail like¹ morsels;
Who can stand before His cold?

18 ^aHe sends out His word and melts them;
He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.

19 ^aHe declares His word to Jacob,
^bHis statutes and His judgments to Israel.

20 ^aHe has not dealt thus with any nation;
And as for His judgments, they have not known them.
¹Praise the Lord!

Commentaries:

Barnes' Notes

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Psalms 147:2

The Lord doth build up Jerusalem - He builds up the walls; he restores the city; he has caused the temple to be reconstructed. This language would be applicable to a return from the captivity. There may be an allusion here to the language in Psalms 102:16 : "When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory." See the notes at that passage. What is there spoken of as what would be in the future is here spoken of as accomplished, and as a ground of praise.

He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel - Those who have been exiled from their native land, and who have been scattered as outcasts in a foreign country. This is appropriate language to use on the supposition that the psalm was composed after the return from the exile, for it is in such language that that return was predicted by the prophets. Isaiah 11:12 : "and he shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah," etc. Isaiah 56:8 : "the Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel," etc.

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