Sing and Praise the Lord

1Shout praises to the Lord!

Our God is kind,

and it is right and good

to sing praises to him.

2The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem

and brings the people of Israel

back home again.

3He renews our hopes

and heals our bodies.

4He decided how many stars

there would be in the sky

and gave each one a name.

5Our Lord is great and powerful!

He understands everything.

6The Lord helps the oppressed,

but he smears the wicked

in the dirt.

7Celebrate and sing!

Play your harps

for the Lord our God.

8He fills the sky with clouds

and sends rain to the earth,

so that the hills

will be green with grass.

9He provides food for cattle

and for the young ravens,

when they cry out.

10The Lord doesn't care about

the strength of horses

or powerful armies.

11The Lord is pleased only

with those who worship him

and trust his love.

12Everyone in Jerusalem,

come and praise

the Lord your God!

13He makes your city gates strong

and blesses your people.

14God lets you live in peace,

and he gives you

the very best wheat.

15As soon as God speaks,

the earth obeys.

16He covers the ground with snow

like a blanket of wool,

and he scatters frost

like ashes on the ground.

17God sends down hailstones

like chips of rocks.

Who can stand the cold?

18At his command the ice melts,

the wind blows,

and streams begin to flow.

19God gave his laws and teachings

to the descendants of Jacob,

the nation of Israel.

20But he has not given his laws

to any other nation.

Shout praises to the Lord!