Psalms 148

King James Version (KJV) · English

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.

Commentary — not Bible text

Psalms 148:1

PSALM 148

Psa 148:1-14. The scope of this Psalm is the same as that of the preceding.

1. heavens [and] heights--are synonymous.

Psalms 148:4

4. heavens of heavens--the very highest.

waters--clouds, resting above the visible heavens (compare Ge 1:7).

Psalms 148:5

5. praise the name--as representing His perfections.

he commanded--"He" is emphatic, ascribing creation to God alone.

Psalms 148:6

6. The perpetuity of the frame of nature is, of course, subject to Him who formed it.

a decree ... pass--His ordinances respecting them shall not change (Jr 36:31), or perish (Job 34:20; Psa 37:36).

Psalms 148:7-10

7-10. The call on the earth, as opposed to heaven, includes seas or depths, whose inhabitants the dragon, as one of the largest (on leviathan, see on Psa 104:26), is selected to represent. The most destructive and ungovernable agents of inanimate nature are introduced.

Psalms 148:11-12

11-12. Next all rational beings, from the highest in rank to little children.

princes--or, military leaders.

Psalms 148:13

13. Let them--all mentioned.

excellent--or, exalted (Is 12:4).

his glory--majesty (Psa 45:3).

above the earth and heaven--Their united splendors fail to match His.

Psalms 148:14

14. exalteth the horn--established power (Psa 75:5, 6).

praise of--or literally, "for"

his saints--that is, occasions for them to praise Him. They are further described as "His people," and "near unto Him," sustaining by covenanted care a peculiarly intimate relation.

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