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Psalms 148

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[1]The Psalmist exhorteth the celestial, [7]the terrestrial, [11]and the rational creatures, to praise God.

1. Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

2. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

3. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

4. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

5. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.

6. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

7. Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:

8. Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

9. Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:

10. Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

11. Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

12. Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:

13. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

14. 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.

Metrical version

Psalm 148

C.M. Stockton

Praise GOD. From heavens praise the LORD,
in heights praise to him be.
All ye his angels, praise ye him;
his hosts all, praise him ye.

O praise ye him, both sun and moon;
praise him, all stars of light.
Ye heav'ns of heav'ns him praise, and floods
above the heavens' height.

Let all the creatures praise the name
of our almighty LORD:
For he commanded, and they were
created by his word.

He also, for all times to come,
hath them established sure;
He hath appointed them a law,
which ever shall endure.

Praise ye JEHOVAH from the earth,
dragons, and ev'ry deep:
Fire, hail, snow, vapour, stormy wind,
his word that fully keep.

All hills and mountains, fruitful trees,
and all ye cedars high:
Beasts, and all cattle, creeping things,
and all ye birds that fly.

Kings of the earth, all nations,
princes, earth's judges all:
Both young men, yea, and maidens too,
old men, and children small.

Let them GOD's name praise; for his name
alone is excellent:
His glory reacheth far above
the earth and firmament.

His people's horn, the praise of all
his saints, exalteth he;
Ev'n Isr'el's seed, a people near
to him. The LORD praise ye.
This psalm was probably penned by David, while he repaired and fortified Jerusalem, 2Sam. 5; and contains, (1.) Solemn calls to praise God, ver. 1, 7, 12, 20. (2.) Weighty reasons for praising God, viz. 1. That, as the God of nature, he is infinitely intelligent and great, and the sovereign manager of all creatures, ver. 4-5, 8-9, 15, 18. 2. As the God of grace, he tenderly comforts, and affectionately delights in his people, ver. 3, 6, 10-11. 3. As the God of Israel, Jerusalem, and Zion, he settles their civil and religious state, ver. 2, 13-14, 19-20.


When God manifests himself in so many things, be ashamed, my soul, that I discern him in so few. O to see God's power and glory in every work of his hand, and especially in every word of his mouth! And to be so affected with what he is, and hath done, and will do, as in every thing to give thanks.

Psalm 148 (second version)

6 6 6 6 8 8 Stockton

The LORD of heav'n confess,
On high his glory raise.
Him let all angels bless,
Him all his armies praise.
Him glorify sun, moon, and stars;
Ye higher spheres, and cloudy sky.

From GOD your beings are,
Him therefore famous make;
You all created were,
When he the word but spake.
And from that place, where fixed you be
By his decree, you cannot pass.

Praise GOD from earth below,
Ye dragons, and ye deeps:
Fire, hail, clouds, wind, and snow,
Whom in command he keeps.
Praise ye his name, hills great and small,
Trees low and tall; beasts wild and tame;

All things that creep or fly.
Ye kings, ye vulgar throng,
All princes mean or high;
Both men and virgins young,
Ev'n young and old, exalt his name;
For much his fame should be extolled.

O let GOD's name be praised
Above both earth and sky;
For he his saints hath raised,
And set their horn on high;
Ev'n those that be of Isr'el's race,
Near to his grace.  The LORD praise ye.
Here the psalmist, overwhelmed with enrapturing views of the glory, and a sense of the goodness of the Lord, issues forth a solemn call to all his fellow creatures, to assist him in his songs of praise. (1.) To the celestial creatures above, whether intellectual beings or not, ver. 1-6. (2.) To the terrestrial creatures below, whether irrational, ver. 7-10; or rational, ver. 11-13; but chiefly to his chosen people, ver. 14.


While angels and other rational beings actively trumpet forth his honours, and irrational creatures praise him objectively, in manifesting his excellencies marked on them; let my soul be ravished with his glory, amazed with his grace, and all inflamed with love, in uttering his praise, who, in Christ, is my God, and my exceeding Joy. Cry out, all my powers, My God, who is like unto thee! Is there any work like unto thy work!