[144:1] Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to battle: [144:2] my loving kindness, my fortress, my high tower, my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I take refuge; who subdues my people under me. [144:3] Yahweh, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him? [144:4] Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away. [144:5] Part your heavens, Yahweh, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke. [144:6] Throw out lightning, and scatter them. Send out your arrows, and rout them. [144:7] Stretch out your hand from above, rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hands of foreigners; [144:8] whose mouths speak deceit, Whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. [144:9] I will sing a new song to you, God. On a ten-stringed lyre, I will sing praises to you. [144:10] You are he who gives salvation to kings, who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword. [144:11] Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hands of foreigners, whose mouths speak deceit, whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. [144:12] Then our sons will be like well-nurtured plants, our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace. [144:13] Our barns are full, filled with all kinds of provision. Our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields. [144:14] Our oxen will pull heavy loads. There is no breaking in, and no going away, and no outcry in our streets. [144:15] Happy are the people who are in such a situation. Happy are the people whose God is Yahweh.
Psalm 145
A praise psalm by David.[*]
[145:1] I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever. [145:2] Every day I will praise you. I will extol your name forever and ever. [145:3] Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable. [145:4] One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts. [145:5] Of the glorious majesty of your honor, of your wondrous works, I will meditate. [145:6] Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts. I will declare your greatness. [145:7] They will utter the memory of your great goodness, and will sing of your righteousness. [145:8] Yahweh is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness. [145:9] Yahweh is good to all. His tender mercies are over all his works. [145:10] All your works will give thanks to you, Yahweh. Your saints will extol you. [145:11] They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk about your power; [145:12] to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, the glory of the majesty of his kingdom. [145:13] Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your dominion endures throughout all generations. [Yahweh is faithful in all his words, ] and loving in all his deeds. [145:14] Yahweh upholds all who fall, and raises up all those who are bowed down. [145:15] The eyes of all wait for you. You give them their food in due season. [145:16] You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing. [145:17] Yahweh is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works. [145:18] Yahweh is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. [145:19] He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them. [145:20] Yahweh preserves all those who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. [145:21] My mouth will speak the praise of Yahweh. Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Psalm 146
[146:1] Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh, my soul. [146:2] While I live, I will praise Yahweh. I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist. [146:3] Don't put your trust in princes, each a son of man in whom there is no help. [146:4] His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth. In that very day, his thoughts perish. [146:5] Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Yahweh, his God: [146:6] who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever; [146:7] who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. Yahweh frees the prisoners. [146:8] Yahweh opens the eyes of the blind. Yahweh raises up those who are bowed down. Yahweh loves the righteous. [146:9] Yahweh preserves the foreigners. He upholds the fatherless and widow, but the way of the wicked he turns upside down. [146:10] Yahweh will reign forever; your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise Yah!
Psalm 147
[147:1] Praise Yah, for it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and fitting to praise him. [147:2] Yahweh builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. [147:3] He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. [147:4] He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names. [147:5] Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite. [147:6] Yahweh upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground. [147:7] Sing to Yahweh with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our God, [147:8] who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains. [147:9] He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call. [147:10] He doesn't delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. [147:11] Yahweh takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness. [147:12] Praise Yahweh, Jerusalem! Praise your God, Zion! [147:13] For he has strengthened the bars of your gates. He has blessed your children within you. [147:14] He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat. [147:15] He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly. [147:16] He gives snow like wool, and scatters frost like ashes. [147:17] He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can stand before his cold? [147:18] He sends out his word, and melts them. He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow. [147:19] He shows his word to Jacob; his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. [147:20] He has not done this for just any nation. They don't know his ordinances. Praise Yah!
Psalm 148
[148:1] Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh from the heavens! Praise him in the heights! [148:2] Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his army! [148:3] Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars! [148:4] Praise him, you heavens of heavens, You waters that are above the heavens. [148:5] Let them praise the name of Yahweh, For he commanded, and they were created. [148:6] He has also established them forever and ever. He has made a decree which will not pass away. [148:7] Praise Yahweh from the earth, you great sea creatures, and all depths! [148:8] Lightning and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling his word; [148:9] mountains and all hills; fruit trees and all cedars; [148:10] wild animals and all livestock; small creatures and flying birds; [148:11] kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth; [148:12] both young men and maidens; old men and children: [148:13] let them praise the name of Yahweh, for his name alone is exalted. His glory is above the earth and the heavens. [148:14] He has lifted up the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near to him. Praise Yah!