Psalms 117 · Verse 1

Psalms 117:1

O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
Psalms 117:1, King James Version

Psalms 117:1 in other translations

BSBPraise the LORD, all you nations! Extol Him, all you peoples!
WEBPraise the LORD, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!
ASVO praise Jehovah, all ye nations; Laud him, all ye peoples.
YLTPraise Jehovah, all ye nations, Glorify Him, all ye peoples.
DARBYPraise Jehovah, all ye nations; laud him, all ye peoples;
BBELet all the nations give praise to the Lord: let all the people give him praise.
WebsterO praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

What does Psalms 117:1 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The psalmist calls upon the nations of the world to praise the Lord for his mercy and kindness, and for the fulfillment of his promises, Psa 117:1, Psa 117:2. This is the shortest Psalm in the whole collection; it is written as a part of the preceding in thirty-two of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., and is found thus printed in some ancient editions. The whole Psalm is omitted in one of Kennicott's and in two of De Rossi's MSS. It celebrates the redemption from the Babylonish captivity, the grand type of the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus. The Syriac says: "It was spoken concerning Ananias and his followers when they came out of the furnace; but it also foretells the vocation of the Gentiles by the preaching of the Gospel." In this way St. Paul applies it, Rom 15:11. Verse 1 O praise the Lord, all ye nations - Let all the Gentiles praise him, for he provides for their eternal salvation. Praise him, all ye people - All ye Jews, praise him; for ye have long been his peculiar people. And while he sends his Son to be a light to the Gentiles, he sends him also to be the glory of his people Israel.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
All people called upon to praise God. --Here is a solemn call to all nations to praise the Lord, and proper matter for that praise is suggested. We are soon weary of well-doing, if we keep not up the pious and devout affections with which the spiritual sacrifice of praise ought to be kindled and kept burning. This is a gospel psalm. The apostle, Ro 15:11, quotes it as a proof that the gospel was to be preached to the Gentile nations, and that it would be entertained by them. For many ages, in Judah only was God known, and his name praised; this call was not then given to any Gentiles. But the gospel of Christ is ordered to be preached to all nations, and by him those that were afar off are made nigh. We are among the persons to whom the Holy Spirit here speaks, whom he calls upon to join his ancient people in praising the Lord. Grace has thus abounded to millions of perishing sinners. Let us then listen to the offers of the grace of God, and pray for that time when all nations of the earth shall show forth his praises. And let us bless God for the unsearchable riches of gospel grace.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 117:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הַֽלְל֣וּha.LupraiseH1984
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
יְ֭הוָהYah.wehYahwehH3068
כָּל\־kol-O allH3605
גּוֹיִ֑םgo.YimnationsH1471
שַׁ֝בְּח֗וּהוּShab.Chu.huextol himH7623
כָּל\־kol-O allH3605
הָאֻמִּֽים\׃ha.'u.Mimthe peoplesH523

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 117:1

  • Revelation 15:4

    Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

  • Romans 15:11

    And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.

  • Psalms 67:3

    Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.

  • Revelation 5:9

    And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

  • Psalms 86:9

    All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

  • Psalms 66:1

    To the chief Musician, A Song or Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:

  • Revelation 7:9-10

    After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

  • Psalms 148:11-14

    Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord.

  • Psalms 66:4

    All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.

  • Psalms 150:6

    Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

  • Isaiah 24:15-16

    Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea. From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.

  • Isaiah 42:10-12

    Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 An exhortation to praise God for his mercy and truth.

(Title.)This Psalm, the shortest in the whole collection, is written as a part of the preceding in thirty-two MSS.: it celebrates the deliverance from the Babylonian captivity, the grand type of the redemption of the world by the Messiah.
O praise.
66:1,4; 67:3; 86:9; Isa 24:15,16; 42:10-12; Ro 15:11; Re 15:4
praise him.
148:11-14; 150:6; Re 5:9; 7:9,10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 117:1

    O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

  • Psalms 117:2

    For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord.

Read all of Psalms 117

Psalms 117:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		ALABAD á Jehová, naciones todas; pueblos todos, alabadle.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Louez l’ Éternel, vous, toutes les nations; célébrez-le, vous, tous les peuples!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Lobet Jehova, alle Nationen! Rühmet ihn, alle Völker!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Alleluja. Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus, quoniam in sæculum misericordia ejus.