1 Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises vnto our God: for it is pleasant, and praise is comely.
2 The Lord doeth build vp Ierusalem: he gathereth together the out-casts of Israel.
3 Hee healeth the broken in heart: and bindeth vp their wounds.
4 He telleth the number of the stars: he calleth them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his vnderstanding is infinite.
6 The Lord lifteth vp the meeke: hee casteth the wicked downe to the ground.
7 Sing vnto the Lord with thankesgiuing: sing prayse vpon the harpe vnto our God:
8 Who couereth the heauen with cloudes, who prepareth raine for the earth: who maketh grasse to growe vpon the mountaines.
9 He giueth to the beast his foode: and to the yong rauens which crie.
10 Hee delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that feare him: in those that hope in his mercie.
12 Praise the Lord, O Ierusalem: praise thy God, O Zion.
13 For hee hath strengthened the barres of thy gates: hee hath blessed thy children within thee.
14 He maketh peace in thy borders: and filleth thee with the finest of the wheate.
15 He sendeth forth his commandement vpon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
16 He giueth snow like wooll: he scattereth the hoare frost like ashes.
17 He casteth forth his yce like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19 He sheweth his word vnto Iacob: his statutes and his iudgements vnto Israel.
20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his iudgements, they haue not knowen them. Praise yee the Lord.
The people of God are exhorted to praise him for his mercies and care. (1-11) For the salvation and prosperity of the church. (12-20)
1-11 Praising God is work that is its own wages. It is comely; it becomes us as reasonable creatures, much more as people in covenant with God. He gathers outcast sinners by his grace, and will bring them into his holy habitation. To those whom God heals with the consolations of his Spirit, he speaks peace, assures them their sins are pardoned. And for this, let others praise him also. Man's knowledge is soon ended; but God's knowledge is a dept that can never be fathomed. And while he telleth the number of the stars, he condescends to hear the broken-hearted sinner. While he feeds the young ravens, he will not leave his praying people destitute. Clouds look dull and melancholy, yet without them we could have no rain, therefore no fruit. Thus afflictions look black and unpleasant; but from clouds of affliction come showers that make the soul to yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness. The psalmist delights not in things wherein sinners trust and glory; but a serious and suitable regard to God is, in his sight, of very great price. We are not to be in doubt between hope and fear, but to act under the gracious influences of hope and fear united.
12-20 The church, like Jerusalem of old, built up and preserved by the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, is exhorted to praise him for all the benefits and blessings vouchsafed to her; and these are represented by his favours in the course of nature. The thawing word may represent the gospel of Christ, and the thawing wind the Spirit of Christ; for the Spirit is compared to the wind, #Joh 3:8|. Converting grace softens the heart that was hard frozen, and melts it into tears of repentance, and makes good reflections to flow, which before were chilled and stopped up. The change which the thaw makes is very evident, yet how it is done no one can say. Such is the change wrought in the conversion of a soul, when God's word and Spirit are sent to melt it and restore it to itself.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.