Skip to the content
The Library
of Alexandria

Christian prayer

Psalm 147

Psalm 147 in its original text and with its meaning, a biblical song of praise for God's care and power.

  • 20 verses
  • About 1 minute to recite
  • From the Bible

Show

  1. 1

    הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ ׀ כִּי־ט֭וֹב זַמְּרָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־נָ֝עִים נָאוָ֥ה תְהִלָּֽה׃

    Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

  2. 2

    בּוֹנֵ֣ה יְרוּשָׁלִַ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה נִדְחֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל יְכַנֵּֽס׃

    The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

  3. 3

    הָ֭רֹפֵא לִשְׁב֣וּרֵי לֵ֑ב וּ֝מְחַבֵּ֗שׁ לְעַצְּבוֹתָֽם׃

    He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

  4. 4

    מוֹנֶ֣ה מִ֭סְפָּר לַכּוֹכָבִ֑ים לְ֝כֻלָּ֗ם שֵׁמ֥וֹת יִקְרָֽא׃

    He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

  5. 5

    גָּד֣וֹל אֲדוֹנֵ֣ינוּ וְרַב־כֹּ֑חַ לִ֝תְבוּנָת֗וֹ אֵ֣ין מִסְפָּֽר׃

    Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

  6. 6

    מְעוֹדֵ֣ד עֲנָוִ֣ים יְהוָ֑ה מַשְׁפִּ֖יל רְשָׁעִ֣ים עֲדֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

    The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

  7. 7

    עֱנ֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה בְּתוֹדָ֑ה זַמְּר֖וּ לֵאלֹהֵ֣ינוּ בְכִנּֽוֹר׃

    Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:

  8. 8

    הַֽמְכַסֶּ֬ה שָׁמַ֨יִם ׀ בְּעָבִ֗ים הַמֵּכִ֣ין לָאָ֣רֶץ מָטָ֑ר הַמַּצְמִ֖יחַ הָרִ֣ים חָצִֽיר׃

    Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

  9. 9

    נוֹתֵ֣ן לִבְהֵמָ֣ה לַחְמָ֑הּ לִבְנֵ֥י עֹ֝רֵ֗ב אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִקְרָֽאוּ׃

    He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.

  10. 10

    לֹ֤א בִגְבוּרַ֣ת הַסּ֣וּס יֶחְפָּ֑ץ לֹֽא־בְשׁוֹקֵ֖י הָאִ֣ישׁ יִרְצֶֽה׃

    He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.

  11. 11

    רוֹצֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אֶת־יְרֵאָ֑יו אֶת־הַֽמְיַחֲלִ֥ים לְחַסְדּֽוֹ׃

    The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

  12. 12

    שַׁבְּחִ֣י יְ֭רוּשָׁלִַם אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה הַֽלְלִ֖י אֱלֹהַ֣יִךְ צִיּֽוֹן׃

    Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.

  13. 13

    כִּֽי־חִ֭זַּק בְּרִיחֵ֣י שְׁעָרָ֑יִךְ בֵּרַ֖ךְ בָּנַ֣יִךְ בְּקִרְבֵּֽךְ׃

    For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.

  14. 14

    הַשָּׂם־גְּבוּלֵ֥ךְ שָׁל֑וֹם חֵ֥לֶב חִ֝טִּ֗ים יַשְׂבִּיעֵֽךְ׃

    He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.

  15. 15

    הַשֹּׁלֵ֣חַ אִמְרָת֣וֹ אָ֑רֶץ עַד־מְ֝הֵרָ֗ה יָר֥וּץ דְּבָרֽוֹ׃

    He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.

  16. 16

    הַנֹּתֵ֣ן שֶׁ֣לֶג כַּצָּ֑מֶר כְּ֝פ֗וֹר כָּאֵ֥פֶר יְפַזֵּֽר׃

    He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.

  17. 17

    מַשְׁלִ֣יךְ קַֽרְח֣וֹ כְפִתִּ֑ים לִפְנֵ֥י קָ֝רָת֗וֹ מִ֣י יַעֲמֹֽד׃

    He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?

  18. 18

    יִשְׁלַ֣ח דְּבָר֣וֹ וְיַמְסֵ֑ם יַשֵּׁ֥ב ר֝וּח֗וֹ יִזְּלוּ־מָֽיִם׃

    He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

  19. 19

    מַגִּ֣יד דברו לְיַעֲקֹ֑ב חֻקָּ֥יו וּ֝מִשְׁפָּטָ֗יו לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

    He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

  20. 20

    לֹ֘א עָ֤שָׂה כֵ֨ן ׀ לְכָל־גּ֗וֹי וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֥ים בַּל־יְדָע֗וּם הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃

    He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here

Free to read, copy and print. No sign-in.

When it is prayed

Many Christians recite Psalm 147 in worship or personal prayer as an expression of praise and gratitude. Its words can also accompany prayer during times of sorrow or rebuilding, offering language of hope in God's care.

  • Worship
  • Personal prayer
  • Thanksgiving
  • Times of sorrow

Where it comes from

Psalm 147 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible, inherited by Christians from the Jewish scriptural tradition. Originally composed in Hebrew, it praises God for restoring Jerusalem, gathering the scattered people of Israel, and sustaining creation. Its author is not identified.

In the libraryThe King James Version of the BibleSee the book

The Library of Alexandria

Every prayer, and the books they come from

Unlimited eBooks, audiobooks and 15-minute summaries, and printed books at cost price: paperback, hardcover and large print. 5 accounts for the price of one, in 25 languages. Free to start.

  • The scriptures, saints and mystics of every faith
  • 5 accounts for the price of one, for your whole household
  • Paperback, hardcover and large print, at the cost of printing
Start free

Free to start. Renews every year. Cancel anytime.

Questions about Psalm 147

How many verses are in Psalm 147?

Psalm 147 has 20 verses.

What is Psalm 147 about?

It calls people to praise God for caring for the brokenhearted, restoring Jerusalem, and providing for creation. It also celebrates God's word and guidance given to Israel.

How long does Psalm 147 take to recite?

It takes about 1 minute to recite, depending on your pace and pauses.

Who wrote Psalm 147?

Its author is not identified in the psalm. It belongs to the Book of Psalms and was originally composed in Hebrew.

Prayers, scriptures and 200,000+ moreFree to start · Renews every year
Start free