The big picture
Psalms 147 opens in verse 1 with “Praise ye the LORD : for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 10 with “He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a…”, and closes in verse 20 with “He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, praise, sing, word, casteth. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 20Psalms 147:1-7
1–7: Praise ye the LORD : for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it…
Psalms 147:1–7 opens with “Praise ye the LORD : for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise…” and reaches “Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 147 develops its own movement around LORD, praise, sing, word, casteth, with particular weight carried by LORD, praise, sing.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Praise ye the LORD : for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and…” By verse 4, the text has turned to “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.” It lands on “Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 4 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as LORD, praise, sing, bindeth, broken, build tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 147 develops its own movement around LORD, praise, sing, word, casteth,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include God, Great, Israel, Jerusalem, Lord, Praise. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 4: “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: LORD, praise, sing, bindeth, broken, build
Verse-by-verse path
- Psalms 147:1
“Praise ye the LORD : for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.” Naming Praise keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Psalms 147:2
“The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.” Naming Israel and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Psalms 147:3
“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bindeth, broken, healeth. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 147:4
“He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.” The line’s distinctive content terms include calleth, names, number. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 147:5
“Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” Naming Great keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Psalms 147:6
“The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.” The line’s distinctive content terms include casteth, ground, lifteth. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 147:7
“Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:” Naming Sing keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 147:1-7
King James Version1Praise ye the LORD : for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
2The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
3He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
4He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
5Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
6The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
7Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
Psalms 147:8-14
8–14: Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth…
Psalms 147:8–14 opens with “Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow…” and reaches “He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 147 develops its own movement around LORD, praise, sing, word, casteth, with particular weight carried by LORD, maketh, pleasure.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to…” By verse 11, the text has turned to “The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” It lands on “He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as LORD, maketh, pleasure, praise, taketh, bars tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 147 develops its own movement around LORD, praise, sing, word, casteth,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include God, Jerusalem, Praise, Zion. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 11: “The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: LORD, maketh, pleasure, praise, taketh, bars
Verse-by-verse path
- Psalms 147:8
“Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.” The line’s distinctive content terms include clouds, covereth, earth. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 147:9
“He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.” The line’s distinctive content terms include beast, food, giveth. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 147:10
“He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.” The line’s distinctive content terms include delighteth, horse, legs. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 147:11
“The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fear, hope, LORD. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 147:12
“Praise the LORD , O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.” Naming Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Psalms 147:13
“For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Psalms 147:14
“He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.” The line’s distinctive content terms include borders, filleth, finest. Its relationship to verses 13 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 147:8-14
King James Version8Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
9He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
10He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
11The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
12Praise the LORD , O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
13For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
14He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
Psalms 147:15-20
15–20: He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very…
Psalms 147:15–20 opens with “He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.” and reaches “He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 147 develops its own movement around LORD, praise, sing, word, casteth, with particular weight carried by word, judgments, sendeth.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.” By verse 17, the text has turned to “He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?” It lands on “He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 question, 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as word, judgments, sendeth, ashes, blow, casteth tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 147 develops its own movement around LORD, praise, sing, word, casteth,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Israel, Jacob, Praise. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 17: “He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: word, judgments, sendeth, ashes, blow, casteth
Verse-by-verse path
- Psalms 147:15
“He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.” The line’s distinctive content terms include commandment, earth, runneth. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 147:16
“He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.” The line’s distinctive content terms include ashes, giveth, hoarfrost. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 147:17
“He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- Psalms 147:18
“He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.” The line’s distinctive content terms include blow, causeth, flow. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 147:19
“He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.” Naming Israel and Jacob keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Psalms 147:20
“He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD .” Naming Praise keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 147:15-20
King James Version15He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
16He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
17He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
18He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
20He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD .
Questions to keep in mind while reading
- Follow the speaker, images, parallel lines, questions, and emotional movement.
- Notice where tension or suffering resists an easy answer.
- Read a saying as wisdom for faithful discernment, not as a mechanical promise detached from context.
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
Questions beneath the surface
- What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Psalms 147?
- Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
- What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
- Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?
Questions for serious personal contemplation
These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.
Observe without rushing
What part of Psalms 147 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?
Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?
Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Psalms 147 develops its own movement around LORD, praise, sing, word, casteth?
What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?
Examine your inner life honestly
Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?
What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?
Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?
If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?
Respond with wisdom and courage
What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?
How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?
What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?
What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?