Psalms 148

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens. Praise him in the highest places above.

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

Note"Praise the LORD" translates the Hebrew word *hallelujah*, a plural command meaning "you all, praise Yah", Yah being a short form of the divine name. Where the King James prints LORD in capital letters, the Hebrew has that personal name of Israel's God (roughly *Yahweh*), not the ordinary word for "lord" or "master." The psalm opens and closes with the same word, framing everything between.

2Praise him, all his angels. Praise him, all his armies of heaven.

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

Note"Hosts" in older English means armies, not guests. The phrase describes the assembled ranks of heaven, angelic beings, and in some Hebrew usage the stars themselves, pictured as an army drawn up in order.

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

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

4Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters that are above the sky.

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

Note"Heavens of heavens" is a Hebrew way of saying "the very highest heavens," the same construction as "king of kings." The "waters above" reflect the picture of the world used throughout the Hebrew Bible: a dome or expanse holds back an ocean overhead, and rain falls when it is opened.

5Let them all praise the name of the LORD, because he gave the command and they were created.

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

6He set them in place to last forever and ever. He made a law for them that will never pass away.

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

Note"A decree which shall not pass" means a fixed order that will not be revoked or come to an end; "pass" here means pass away, not pass by. The Hebrew can also be read as a boundary that the things created will not overstep.

7Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all the deep waters.

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

NoteThe King James "dragons" translates a Hebrew word (*tanninim*) used for large sea creatures (whales, crocodiles, serpents of the sea) and elsewhere for the chaotic sea monsters of ancient poetry. "Deeps" means the deep waters, the ocean depths.

8Praise him, fire and hail, snow and clouds, and the strong wind that does what he says.

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

Note"Fire" here is lightning, the fire that comes from the sky. "Vapours" in 1611 English meant mist or cloud, not steam.

9Praise him, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedar trees.

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

NoteCedars of Lebanon were the largest and most valuable trees known to the writer's world, timber for palaces and temples, and a standard image for anything tall and grand.

10Praise him, wild animals and all cattle, crawling creatures and flying birds.

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

11Praise him, kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all the rulers of the earth.

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

Note"Judges" in the Hebrew Bible usually means those who govern and settle disputes, rulers and magistrates rather than courtroom judges in the modern sense.

12Praise him, young men and young women, old people and children.

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

Note"Maidens" is simply the older English word for unmarried young women. The pairs (young and old, male and female) are a way of saying "everyone, without exception."

13Let them praise the name of the LORD, because his name alone is lifted high. His glory is above the earth and the heavens.

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

14He has raised up a horn for his people. It is a praise for all who belong to him, of the people of Israel, who are close to him. Praise the LORD!

14He 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.

NoteTo "raise up a horn" is a Hebrew idiom drawn from a horned animal lifting its head: it means to give strength, victory, or restored standing. "Saints" in the King James does not mean canonized holy people; it translates a word meaning those bound to God in loyal love, his faithful ones. "A people near unto him" describes closeness of relationship, like kin or courtiers admitted to a king's presence.