Psalm 147

Authorship

This Psalm is anonymous.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. The compassion of God. (1-3)

A. Praise ye the Lord:

1. For it is good to sing praises unto our God.

2. For it is pleasant.

3. Praise is comely.

B. The Lord builds up Jerusalem: He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

C. He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.

II. The concern of God. (4-6)

A. He tells the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names.

B. Great is our Lord, and of great power.

C. His understanding is infinite.

D. The Lord lifts up the meek.

E. He casts the wicked down to the ground.

III. The care of God. (7-11)

A. Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God.

B. Who covers the heaven with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

C. He gives to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.

D. He delights not in the strength of the horse: He takes not pleasure in the legs of a man.

E. The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.

IV. The covenant of God. (12-20)

A. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.

B. For He has strengthened the bars of Thy gates.

C. He has blessed thy children within thee.

D. He makes peace in thy borders.

E. He fills thee with the finest of the wheat.

F. He sends forth His commandment upon earth: His Word runs very swiftly.

G. He gives snow like wool:

1. He scatters the hoarfrost like ashes.

2. He casts forth His ice like morsels.

3. Who can stand before His cold?

4. He sends out His Word, and melts them.

5. He causes His wind to blow.

6. He causes the waters to flow.

H. He shows His word unto Jacob, His statutes and His judgments unto Israel.

1. He hath not dealt so with any nation.

2. And as for His judgments, they have not known them.

V. Praise ye the Lord. (20)

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 147,1 נָאוָה {B} MT, α', σ', θ'ε', Gal, Hebr, S, T // ampl: Qd / abr-elus: G om

Ps 147,8 חָצִיר {B} MT, G, Hebr, S, T // assim 104,14: g add καὶ χλόην τῇ δουλείᾳ τῶν ἀνθρώπων

Ps 147,17 מִי {A}

Ps 147,20A יְדָעוּם {C} Hebr // facil-synt: 11QPs^a, G, S, T הודיעם

Ps 147,20B הַלְלוּ־יָהּ {B}