Praise to the Creator
(Psalm 148:1–14)

1A Psalm of David. Exult in the Lord, you just ones; together praise the upright.

2Confess to the Lord with stringed instruments; sing psalms to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings.

3Sing to him a new song. Sing psalms to him skillfully, with loud exclamation.

4For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his works are in faith.

5He loves mercy and judgment. The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.

6By the word of the Lord, the heavens were established, and all their power, by the Spirit of his mouth:

7gathering together the waters of the sea, as if in a container, placing the depths in storage.

8Let all the earth fear the Lord, and may all the inhabitants of the world quake before him.

9For he spoke, and they became. He commanded, and they were created.

10The Lord scatters the counsels of the nations. Moreover, he reproves the thoughts of the people, and he rejects the counsels of the leaders.

11But the counsel of the Lord remains for eternity, the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation.

12Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his inheritance.

13The Lord has looked down from heaven. He has seen all the sons of men.

14From his well-prepared dwelling place, he has gazed upon all who dwell on the earth.

15He has formed the hearts of each one of them; he understands all their works.

16The king is not saved by great power, nor will the giant be saved by his many powers.

17The horse is false safety; for he will not be saved by the abundance of his powers.

18Behold, the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him and on those who hope in his mercy,

19so as to rescue their souls from death and to feed them during famine.

20Our soul remains with the Lord. For he is our helper and protector.

21For in him, our heart will rejoice, and in his holy name, we have hoped.

22Let your mercy be upon us, O Lord, just as we have hoped in you.