1 Praise the Lord!

For *itis good to sing praises to our God;

*For itis pleasant, and*praise is beautiful.

2 The Lord*builds up Jerusalem;

*He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

3 *He heals the brokenhearted

And binds up their wounds.

4 *He counts the number of the stars;

He calls them all by name.

5 *Great is our Lord, and *mighty in power;

*His understanding is infinite.

6 *The 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 *Who covers the heavens with clouds,

Who prepares rain for the earth,

Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.

9 *He gives to the beast its food,

And*to the young ravens that cry.

10 *He 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 *He makes peace in your borders,

And*fills you with the finest wheat.

15 *He sends out His command tothe earth;

His word runs very swiftly.

16 *He gives snow like wool;

He scatters the frost like ashes;

17 He casts out His hail like morsels;

Who can stand before His cold?

18 *He sends out His word and melts them;

He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.

19 *He declares His word to Jacob,

*His statutes and His judgments to Israel.

20 *He has not dealt thus with any nation;

And asforHis judgments, they have not known them.

Praise the Lord!