¹Praise the Lord, for it is good to sing praises to our God. Yes, praise is pleasant and appropriate. ²The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem and gathers the exiles of Israel. ³He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. ⁴He counts the number of the stars; he names all of them.⁵Our Lord is great and has awesome power; there is no limit to his wisdom. ⁶The Lord lifts up the oppressed, but knocks the wicked to the ground. ⁷Offer to the Lord a song of thanks. Sing praises to our God to the accompaniment of a harp. ⁸He covers the sky with clouds, provides the earth with rain, and causes grass to grow on the hillsides. ⁹He gives food to the animals and to the young ravens when they chirp. ¹⁰He is not enamored with the strength of a horse, nor is he impressed by the warrior’s strong legs. ¹¹The Lord takes delight in his faithful followers and in those who wait for his loyal love. ¹²Extol the Lord, O Jerusalem. Praise your God, O Zion. ¹³For he makes the bars of your gates strong. He blesses your children within you.¹⁴He brings peace to your territory. He abundantly provides for you the best grain. ¹⁵He sends his command through the earth; swiftly his order reaches its destination. ¹⁶He sends the snow that is white like wool; he spreads the frost that is white like ashes. ¹⁷He throws his hailstones like crumbs. Who can withstand the cold wind he sends?¹⁸He then orders it all to melt; he breathes on it, and the water flows. ¹⁹He proclaims his word to Jacob, his statutes and regulations to Israel. ²⁰He has not done so with any other nation; they are not aware of his regulations. Praise the Lord!