1Praise the Lord!

How good it is to sing praises to our God,

for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.*

2The Lord builds up Jerusalem;

he gathers the outcasts of Israel.*

3He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.*

4He determines the number of the stars;

he gives to all of them their names.*

5Great is our Lord and abundant in power;

his understanding is beyond measure.*

6The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;

he casts the wicked to the ground.

7Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;

make melody to our God on the lyre.

8He covers the heavens with clouds,

prepares rain for the earth,

makes grass grow on the hills.*

9He gives to the animals their food

and to the young ravens when they cry.*

10His delight is not in the strength of the horse

nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner,w^,*

11but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,

in those who hope in his steadfast love.

12Extol the Lord, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

13For he strengthens the bars of your gates;

he blesses your children within you.

14He grants peacex within your borders;

he fills you with the finest of wheat.*

15He sends out his command to the earth;

his word runs swiftly.*

16He gives snow like wool;

he scatters frost like ashes.*

17He hurls down hail like crumbs—

who can stand before his cold?

18He sends out his word and melts them;

he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.*

19He declares his word to Jacob,

his statutes and ordinances to Israel.*

20He has not dealt thus with any other nation;

they do not know his ordinances.

Praise the Lord!*