It Is Good to Sing Praises

1Alleluia. Praise the Lord, because the psalm is good. Delightful and beautiful praise shall be for our God.

2The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He will gather together the dispersed of Israel.

3He heals the contrite of heart, and he binds up their sorrows.

4He numbers the multitude of the stars, and he calls them all by their names.

5Great is our Lord, and great is his virtue. And of his wisdom, there is no number.

6The Lord lifts up the meek, but he brings down the sinner, even to the ground.

7Sing before the Lord with confession. Play psalms to our God on a stringed instrument.

8He covers heaven with clouds, and he prepares rain for the earth. He produces grass on the mountains and herbs for the service of men.

9He gives their food to beasts of burden and to young ravens that call upon him.

10He will not have good will for the strength of the horse, nor will he be well pleased with the legs of a man.

11The Lord is well pleased with those who fear him and with those who hope in his mercy.

12Alleluia. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem. Praise your God, O Zion.

13For he has reinforced the bars of your gates. He has blessed your sons within you.

14He has stationed peace at your borders, and he has satisfied you with the fat of the grain.

15He sends forth his eloquence to the earth. His word runs swiftly.

16He provides snow like wool. He strews clouds like ashes.

17He sends his ice crystals like morsels. Who can stand firm before the face of his cold?

18He will send forth his word, and it will melt them. His Spirit will breathe out, and the waters will flow.

19He announces his word to Jacob, his justices and his judgments to Israel.

20He has not done so much for every nation, and he has not made his judgments manifest to them. Alleluia.