Psalms 147 · Verse 1

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.

Psalms 147:1, King James Version

Psalms 147:1 in other translations

BSB	Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and lovely to praise Him!
WEB	Praise the LORD, for it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and fitting to praise him.
ASV	Praise ye Jehovah; For it is good to sing praises unto our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is comely.
YLT	Praise ye Jah! For it is good to praise our God, For pleasant--comely is praise.
DARBY	Praise ye Jah! for it is good. Sing psalms of our God; for it is pleasant: praise is comely.
BBE	Give praise to the Lord; for it is good to make melody to our God; praise is pleasing and beautiful.
Webster	Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

What does Psalms 147:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Psa 147:1-20. This and the remaining Psalms have been represented as specially designed to celebrate the rebuilding of Jerusalem (compare Ne 6:16; 12:27). They all open and close with the stirring call for praise. This one specially declares God's providential care towards all creatures, and particularly His people.

1. (Compare Psa 92:1; 135:3).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The psalmist praises God for his goodness to Jerusalem, Psa 147:1-3; shows his great mercy to them that trust in him, Psa 147:4-6; he extols him for his mercies, and providential kindness, Psa 147:7-11; for his defense of Jerusalem, Psa 147:12-15; For his wonders in the seasons, Psa 147:16-18; and his word unto Jacob, Psa 147:19, Psa 147:20. This Psalm, which is without title in the Hebrew, Chaldee, and Vulgate, is attributed by the other Versions to Haggai and Zechariah. It was probably penned after the captivity, when the Jews were busily employed in rebuilding Jerusalem, as may be gathered from the second and thirteenth verses. It may be necessary to remark that all the Versions, except the Chaldee, divide this Psalm at the end of the eleventh verse, and begin a new Psalm at the twelfth. By this division the numbers of the Psalms agree in the Versions with the Hebrew; the former having been, till now, one behind. Verse 1 Praise is comely - It is decent, befitting, and proper that every intelligent creature should acknowledge the Supreme Being: and as he does nothing but good to the children of men, so they should speak good of his name.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 147:1-11

Praising God is work that is its own wages. It is comely; it becomes us as reasonable creatures, much more as people in covenant with God. He gathers outcast sinners by his grace, and will bring them into his holy habitation. To those whom God heals with the consolations of his Spirit, he speaks peace, assures them their sins are pardoned. And for this, let others praise him also. Man's knowledge is soon ended; but God's knowledge is a dept that can never be fathomed. And while he telleth the number of the stars, he condescends to hear the broken-hearted sinner. While he feeds the young ravens, he will not leave his praying people destitute. Clouds look dull and melancholy, yet without them we could have no rain, therefore no fruit. Thus afflictions look black and unpleasant; but from clouds of affliction come showers that make the soul to yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness. The psalmist delights not in things wherein sinners trust and glory; but a serious and suitable regard to God is, in his sight, of very great price. We are not to be in doubt between hope and fear, but to act under the gracious influences of hope and fear united.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 147:1 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.

הַ֥לְלוּHa.lupraiseH1984

יָ֨הּ\׀yahYahwehH3050

כִּי\־ki-forH3588

ט֭וֹבTov[is] goodH2896

זַמְּרָ֣הza.me.Rahto sing praises toH2167

אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuGod ourH430

כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588

נָ֝עִיםNa.'im[is] pleasantH5273

נָאוָ֥הna.Vah[is] fittingH5000

תְהִלָּֽה\׃te.hi.LahpraiseH8416

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

Cross references for Psalms 147:1

Psalms 135:3
Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
Psalms 92:1
A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
Psalms 33:1
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Psalms 42:4
When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
Psalms 63:3-5
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
Revelation 5:9-14
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; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. …
Revelation 19:1-6
And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. …
Psalms 122:1-4
A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 The prophet exhorts to praise God for his care of the church;
4 his power and wisdom;
6 his mercy;
7 his providence;
12 to praise him for his blessings upon the kingdom;
15 for his power over the elements;
19 and for his ordinances in the church.

for it is good.
63:3-5; 92:1; 135:3
and praise.
33:1; 42:4; 122:1-4; Re 5:9-14; 19:1-6

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

Context

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.
Psalms 147:2
The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

Read all of Psalms 147

Psalms 147:1 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	ALABAD á JAH, porque es bueno cantar salmos á nuestro Dios; porque suave y hermosa es la alabanza.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Louez Jah! car c’est une chose bonne. Chantez les louanges de notre Dieu! car c’est une chose agréable. La louange est bienséante.
German Elberfelder 1871	Lobet Jehova! denn es ist gut, unseren Gott zu besingen; denn es ist lieblich, es geziemt sich Lobgesang.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Alleluja. Lauda, Jerusalem, Dominum; lauda Deum tuum, Sion.