Psalms 148:1-14 King James Version (KJV)

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 vapours; 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.

Psalms 148:1-14 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

¹ Praise ^H1984 ye the LORD. ^H3050 Praise ^H1984 ye the LORD ^H3068 from the heavens: ^H8064 praise ^H1984 him in the heights. ^H4791

² Praise ^H1984 ye him, all his angels: ^H4397 praise ^H1984 ye him, all his hosts. ^H6635

³ Praise ^H1984 ye him, sun ^H8121 and moon: ^H3394 praise ^H1984 him, all ye stars ^H3556 of light. ^H216

⁴ Praise ^H1984 him, ye heavens ^H8064 of heavens, ^H8064 and ye waters ^H4325 that be above the heavens. ^H8064

⁵ Let them praise ^H1984 the name ^H8034 of the LORD: ^H3068 for he commanded, ^H6680 and they were created. ^H1254

⁶ He hath also stablished ^H5975 them for ever ^H5703 and ever: ^H5769 he hath made ^H5414 a decree ^H2706 which shall not pass. ^H5674

⁷ Praise ^H1984 the LORD ^H3068 from the earth, ^H776 ye dragons, ^H8577 and all deeps: ^H8415

⁸ Fire, ^H784 and hail; ^H1259 snow, ^H7950 and vapour; ^H7008 stormy ^H5591 wind ^H7307 fulfilling ^H6213 his word: ^H1697

⁹ Mountains, ^H2022 and all hills; ^H1389 fruitful ^H6529 trees, ^H6086 and all cedars: ^H730

¹⁰ Beasts, ^H2416 and all cattle; ^H929 creeping things, ^H7431 and flying ^H3671 fowl: ^H6833

¹¹ Kings ^H4428 of the earth, ^H776 and all people; ^H3816 princes, ^H8269 and all judges ^H8199 of the earth: ^H776

¹² Both young men, ^H970 and maidens; ^H1330 old men, ^H2205 and children: ^H5288

¹³ Let them praise ^H1984 the name ^H8034 of the LORD: ^H3068 for his name ^H8034 alone is excellent; ^H7682 his glory ^H1935 is above the earth ^H776 and heaven. ^H8064

¹⁴ He also exalteth ^H7311 the horn ^H7161 of his people, ^H5971 the praise ^H8416 of all his saints; ^H2623 even of the children ^H1121 of Israel, ^H3478 a people ^H5971 near ^H7138 unto him. Praise ^H1984 ye the LORD. ^H3050

Psalms 148:1-14 American Standard (ASV)

¹ Praise ye Jehovah. Praise ye Jehovah from the heavens: Praise him in the heights.

² Praise ye him, all his angels: Praise ye him, all his host.

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 are above the heavens.

⁵ Let them praise the name of Jehovah; For he commanded, and they were created.

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

⁷ Praise Jehovah from the earth, Ye sea-monsters, and all deeps.

⁸ Fire and hail, snow and vapor; Stormy wind, fulfilling his word;

⁹ Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars;

¹⁰ Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying birds;

¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth;

¹² Both young men and virgins; Old men and children:

¹³ Let them praise the name of Jehovah; For his name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and the heavens.

¹⁴ And he hath lifted up the horn of his people, The praise of all his saints; Even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye Jehovah.

Psalms 148:1-14 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

¹ Praise ye Jah! Praise ye Jehovah from the heavens, Praise ye Him in high places.

² Praise ye Him, all His messengers, Praise ye Him, all His hosts.

³ Praise ye Him, sun and moon, Praise ye Him, all stars of light.

⁴ Praise ye Him, heavens of heavens, And ye waters that are above the heavens.

⁵ They do praise the name of Jehovah, For He commanded, and they were created.

⁶ And He establisheth them for ever to the age, A statute He gave, and they pass not over.

⁷ Praise ye Jehovah from the earth, Dragons and all deeps,

⁸ Fire and hail, snow and vapour, Whirlwind doing His word;

⁹ The mountains and all heights, Fruit tree, and all cedars,

¹⁰ The wild beast, and all cattle, Creeping thing, and winged bird,

¹¹ Kings of earth, and all peoples, Chiefs, and all judges of earth,

¹² Young men, and also maidens, Aged men, with youths,

¹³ They praise the name of Jehovah, For His name alone hath been set on high, His honour `is' above earth and heavens.

¹⁴ And He exalteth the horn of His people, The praise of all His saints, Of the sons of Israel, a people near Him. Praise ye Jah!

Psalms 148:1-14 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

¹ Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah from the heavens; praise him in the heights.

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

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

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

⁵ Let them praise the name of Jehovah, for he it is that commanded, and they were created:

⁶ And he established them for ever and ever; he made [for them] a statute which shall not pass.

⁷ Praise Jehovah from the earth, ye sea-monsters, and all deeps;

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

⁹ Mountains and all hills, fruit-trees and all cedars;

¹⁰ Beasts and all cattle, creeping things and winged fowl;

¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth;

¹² Both young men and maidens, old men with youths, --

¹³ Let them praise the name of Jehovah: for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above the earth and the heavens.

¹⁴ And he hath lifted up the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints, [even] of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Hallelujah!

Psalms 148:1-14 World English Bible (WEB)

¹ Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh from the heavens! Praise him in the heights!

² Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his host!

³ Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars!

⁴ Praise him, you heavens of heavens, You waters that are above the heavens.

⁵ Let them praise the name of Yahweh, For he commanded, and they were created.

⁶ He has also established them forever and ever. He has made a decree which will not pass away.

⁷ Praise Yahweh from the earth, You great sea creatures, and all depths!

⁸ Lightning and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling his word;

⁹ Mountains and all hills; Fruit trees and all cedars;

¹⁰ Wild animals and all cattle; Small creatures and flying birds;

¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth;

¹² Both young men and maidens; Old men and children:

¹³ Let them praise the name of Yahweh, For his name alone is exalted. His glory is above the earth and the heavens.

¹⁴ He has lifted up the horn of his people, The praise of all his saints; Even of the children of Israel, a people near to him. Praise Yah!

Psalms 148:1-14 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

¹ Give praise to the Lord. Let the Lord be praised from the heavens: give him praise in the skies.

² Give praise to him, all you his angels: give praise to him, all his armies.

³ Give praise to him, you sun and moon: give praise to him, all you stars of light.

⁴ Give praise to him, you highest heavens, and you waters which are over the heavens.

⁵ Let them give praise to the name of the Lord: for he gave the order, and they were made.

⁶ He has put them in their places for ever; he has given them their limits which may not be broken.

⁷ Give praise to the Lord from the earth, you great sea-beasts, and deep places:

⁸ Fire and rain of ice, snow and mists; storm-wind, doing his word:

⁹ Mountains and all hills; fruit-trees and all trees of the mountains:

¹⁰ Beasts and all cattle; insects and winged birds:

¹¹ Kings of the earth, and all peoples; rulers and all judges of the earth:

¹² Young men and virgins; old men and children:

¹³ Let them give glory to the name of the Lord: for his name only is to be praised: his kingdom is over the earth and the heaven.

¹⁴ He has put on high the horn of his people, for the praise of all his saints; even the children of Israel, a people which is near to him. Let the Lord be praised.

Commentary on Psalms 148 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill Keil & Delitzsch Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Psalm 148

This psalm is a most solemn and earnest call to all the creatures, according to their capacity, to praise their Creator, and to show forth his eternal power and Godhead, the invisible things of which are manifested in the things that are seen. Thereby the psalmist designs to express his great affection to the duty of praise; he is highly satisfied that God is praised, is very desirous that he may be more praised, and therefore does all he can to engage all about him in this pleasant work, yea, and all who shall come after him, whose hearts must be very dead and cold if they be not raised and enlarged, in praising God, by the lofty flights of divine poetry which we find in this psalm.

I. He calls upon the higher house, the creatures that are placed in the upper world, to praise the Lord, both those that are intellectual beings, and are capable of doing it actively (v. 1, 2), and those that are not, and are therefore capable of doing it only objectively (v. 3-6).
II. He calls upon the lower house, the creatures of this lower world, both those that can only minister matter of praise (v. 7-10) and those that, being endued with reason, are capable of offering up this sacrifice (v. 11-13), especially his own people, who have more cause to do it, and are more concerned to do it, than any other (v. 14).

Psa 148:1-6

We, in this dark and depressed world, know but little of the world of light and exaltation, and, conversing within narrow confines, can scarcely admit any tolerable conceptions of the vast regions above. But this we know,

I. That there is above us a world of blessed angels by whom God is praised, an innumerable company of them. Thousand thousands minister unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before him; and it is his glory that he has such attendants, but much more his glory that he neither needs them, nor is, nor can be, any way benefited by them. To that bright and happy world the psalmist has an eye here, v. 1, 2. In general, to the heavens, to the heights. The heavens are the heights, and therefore we must lift up our souls above the world unto God in the heavens, and on things above we must set our affections. It is his desire that God may be praised from the heavens, that thence a praising frame may be transmitted to this world in which we live, that while we are so cold, and low, and flat, in praising God, there are those above who are doing it in a better manner, and that while we are so often interrupted in this work they rest not day nor night from it. In particular, he had an eye to God's angels, to his hosts, and calls upon them to praise God. That God's angels are his hosts is plain enough; as soon as they were made they were enlisted, armed, and disciplined; he employs them in fighting his battles, and they keep ranks, and know their place, and observe the word of command as his hosts. But what is meant by the psalmist's calling upon them, and exciting them to praise God, is not so easy to account for. I will not say, They do not heed it, because we find that to the principalities and powers is known by the church the manifold wisdom of God (Eph. 3:10); but I will say, They do not need it, for they are continually praising God and there is no deficiency at all in their performances; and therefore when, in singing this psalm, we call upon the angels to praise God (as we did, Ps. 103:20), we mean that we desire God may be praised by the ablest hands and in the best manner,
- -that we are pleased to think he is so,
- -that we have a spiritual communion with those that dwell in his house above and are still praising him,
- -and that we have come by faith, and hope, and holy love, to the innumerable company of angels, Heb. 12:22.
II. That there is above us not only an assembly of blessed spirits, but a system of vast bodies too, and those bright ones, in which God is praised, that is, which may give us occasion (as far as we know any thing of them) to give to God the glory not only of their being, but of their beneficence to mankind. Observe,
- 1. What these creatures are that thus show us the way in praising God, and, whenever we look up and consider the heavens, furnish us with matter for his praises.
  - (1.) There are the sun, moon, and stars, which continually, either day or night, present themselves to our view, as looking-glasses, in which we may see a faint shadow (for so I must call it, not a resemblance) of the glory of him that is the Father of lights, v. 3. The greater lights, the sun and moon, are not too great, too bright, to praise him; and the praises of the less lights, the stars, shall not be slighted. Idolaters made the sun, moon, and stars, their gods, and praised them, worshipping and serving the creature, because it is seen, more than the Creator, because he is not seen; but we, who worship the true God only, make them our fellow-worshippers, and call upon them to praise him with us, nay, as Levites to attend us, who, as priests, offer this spiritual sacrifice.
  - (2.) There are the heavens of heavens above the sun and stars, the seat of the blessed; from the vastness and brightness of these unknown orbs abundance of glory redounds to God, for the heavens of heavens are the Lord's (Ps. 115:16) and yet they cannot contain him, 1 Ki. 8:27. The learned Dr. Hammond understands her, by the heavens of heavens, the upper regions of the air, or all the regions of it, as Ps. 68:33. We read of the heaven of heavens, whence God sends forth his voice, and that a mighty voice, meaning the thunder.
  - (3.) There are the waters that are above the heavens, the clouds that hang above in the air, where they are reserved against the day of battle and war, Job 38:23. We have reason to praise God, not only that these waters do not drown the earth, but that they do water it and make it fruitful. The Chaldee paraphrase reads it, Praise him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters that depend on the word of him who is above the heavens, for the key of the clouds is one of the keys which God has in his hand, wherewith he opens and none can shut, he shuts and none can open.
- 2. Upon what account we are to give God the glory of them: Let them praise the name of the Lord, that is, let us praise the name of the Lord for them, and observe what constant and fresh matter for praise may be fetched from them.
  - (1.) Because he made them, gave them their powers and assigned them their places: He commanded them (great as they are) out of nothing, and they were created at a word's speaking. God created, and therefore may command; for he commanded, and so created; his authority must always be acknowledged and acquiesced in, because he once spoke with such authority.
  - (2.) Because he still upholds and preserves them in their beings and posts, their powers and motions (v. 6): He hath established them for ever and ever, that is, to the end of time, a short ever, but it is their ever; they shall last as long as there is occasion for them. He hath made a decree, the law of creation, which shall not pass; it was enacted by the wisdom of God, and therefore needs not be altered, by his sovereignty and inviolable fidelity, and therefore cannot be altered. All the creatures that praised God at first for their creation must praise him still for their continuance. And we have reason to praise him that they are kept within the bounds of a decree; for to that it is owing that the waters above the heavens have not a second time drowned the earth.

Psa 148:7-14

Considering that this earth, and the atmosphere that surrounds it, are the very sediment of the universe, it concerns us to enquire after those considerations that may be of use to reconcile us to our place in it; and I know none more likely than this (next to the visit which the Son of God once made to it), that even in this world, dark and as bad as it is, God is praised: Praise you the Lord from the earth, v. 7. As the rays of the sun, which are darted directly from heaven, reflect back (though more weakly) from the earth, so should the praises of God, with which this cold and infected world should be warmed and perfumed.

I. Even those creatures that are not dignified with the powers of reason are summoned into this concert, because God may be glorified in them, v. 7-10. Let the dragons or whales, that sport themselves in the mighty waters (Ps. 104:26), dance before the Lord, to his glory, who largely proves his own omnipotence by his dominion over the leviathan or whale, Job 41:1, etc. All deeps, and their inhabitants, praise God-the sea, and the animals there-the bowels of the earth, and the animals there. Out of the depths God may be praised as well as prayed unto. If we look up into the atmosphere we meet with a great variety of meteors, which, being a king of new productions (and some of them unaccountable), do in a special manner magnify the power of the great Creator. There are fiery meteors; lightning is fire, and there are other blazes sometimes kindled which may be so called. There are watery meteors, hail, and snow, and the vapours of which they are gendered. There are airy meteors, stormy winds; we know not whence they come nor whither they go, whence their mighty force comes nor how it is spent; but this we know, that, be they ever so strong, so stormy, they fulfil God's word, and do that, and no more than that, which he appoints them; and by this Christ showed himself to have a divine power, that he commanded even the winds and the seas, and they obeyed him. Those that will not fulfil God's word, but rise up in rebellion against it, show themselves to be more violent and headstrong than even the stormy winds, for they fulfil it. Take a view of the surface of the earth (v. 9), and there are presented to our view the exalted grounds, mountains and all hills, from the barren tops of some of which, and the fruitful tops of others, we may fetch matter for praise; there are the exalted plants, some that are exalted by their usefulness, as the fruitful trees of various kinds, for the fruits of which God is to be praised, others by their stateliness, as all cedars, those trees of the Lord, Ps. 104:16. Cedars, the high trees, are not the fruitful trees, yet they had their use even in God's temple. Pass we next to the animal kingdom, and there we find God glorified, even by the beasts that run wild, and all cattle that are tame and in the service of man, v. 10. Nay, even the creeping things have not sunk so low, nor do the flying fowl soar so high, as not to be called upon to praise the Lord. Much of the wisdom, power, and goodness of the Creator appears in the several capacities and instincts of the creatures, in the provision made for them and the use made of them. When we see all so very strange, and all so very good, surely we cannot but acknowledge God with wonder and thankfulness.
II. Much more those creatures that are dignified with the powers of reason ought to employ them in praising God: Kings of the earth and all people, v. 11, 12.
- 1. God is to be glorified in and for these, as in and for the inferior creatures, for their hearts are in the hand of the Lord and he makes what use he pleases of them. God is to be praised in the order and constitution of kingdoms, the pars imperans-the part that commands, and the pars subdita-the part that is subject: Kings of the earth and all people. It is by him that kings reign, and people are subject to them; the princes and judges of the earth have their wisdom and their commission from him, and we, to whom they are blessings, ought to bless God for them. God is to be praised also in the constitution of families, for he is the founder of them; and for all the comfort of relations, the comfort that parents and children, brothers and sisters, have in each other, God is to be praised.
- 2. God is to be glorified by these. Let all manner of persons praise God.
  - (1.) Those of each rank, high and low. The praises of kings, and princes, and judges, are demanded; those on whom God has put honour must honour him with it, and the power they are entrusted with, and the figure they make in the world, put them in a capacity of bringing more glory to God and doing him more service than others. Yet the praises of the people are expected also, and God will graciously accept of them; Christ despised not the hosannas of the multitude.
  - (2.) Those of each sex, young men and maidens, who are accustomed to make merry together; let them turn their mirth into this channel; let it be sacred, that it may be pure.
  - (3.) Those of each age. Old men must still bring forth this fruit in old age, and not think that either the gravity or the infirmity of their age will excuse them from it; and children too must begin betimes to praise God; even out of the mouth of babes and sucklings this good work is perfected. A good reason is given (v. 13) why all these should praise the name of the Lord, because his name alone is excellent and worthy to be praised; it is a name above every name, no name, no nature, but his, has in it all excellency. His glory is above both the earth and the heaven, and let all inhabitants both of earth and heaven praise him and yet acknowledge his name to be exalted far above all blessing and praise.
III. Most of all his own people, who are dignified with peculiar privileges, must in a peculiar manner give glory to him, v. 14. Observe,
- 1. The dignity God has put upon his people, even the children of Israel, typical of the honour reserved for all true believers, who are God's spiritual Israel. He exalts their horn, their brightness, their plenty, their power. The people of Israel were, in many respects, honoured above any other nation, for to them pertained the adoption, the glory, and the covenants, Rom. 9:4. It was their own honour that they were a people near unto God, his Segulla, his peculiar treasure; they were admitted into his courts, when a stranger that came nigh must be put to death. They had him nigh to them in all that which they called upon him for. This blessing has not come upon the Gentiles, through Christ, for those that were afar off are by his blood made nigh, Eph. 2:13. It is the greatest honour that can be put upon a man to be brought near to god, the nearer the better; and it will be best of all when nearest of all in the kingdom of glory.
- 2. The duty God expects from them in consideration of this. Let those whom God honours honour him: Praise you the Lord. Let him be the praise of all his saints, the object of their praise; for he is a praise to them. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, Deu. 10:21. Some by the horn of his people understand David, as a type of Christ, whom God has exalted to be a prince and a Saviour, who is indeed the praise of all his saints and will be so for ever; for it is through him that they are a people near to God.

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