Praise the LORD's Name

Praise the LORD!Praise the LORD’s name!Praise him, you servants of the LORD,

Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.

The psalm opens with three calls to praise: praise the LORD, praise his name, praise him, you servants of the LORD. Those addressed are the ones who stand in his house. The same call closes the psalm.

Also read Psalm 107:15, Psalm 102:21, Psalm 106:1, Exodus 34:5-7

you who stand in the LORD’s house,in the courts of our God’s house.

Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God,

Also read 1 Chronicles 16:37-42, Nehemiah 9:5, Psalm 92:13, Psalm 116:19

Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good.Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant.

Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.

Two reasons for praise are given here. The LORD is good, and singing praises to his name is pleasant. Praise is presented as right and also enjoyable.

Also read Psalm 107:1, Psalm 118:1, Psalm 119:68, Psalm 147:1

For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,Israel for his own possession.

For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

The LORD has chosen Jacob for himself and Israel for his own possession. This is the first reason that names Israel. God's choice of his people comes before his acts in history.

Also read Deuteronomy 32:9, Zechariah 2:10-12, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 Samuel 12:22

For I know that the LORD is great,that our Lord is above all gods.

For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.

The speaker says he knows the LORD is great and that the Lord is above all gods. It is a personal statement inside a public hymn. It prepares for the contrast with idols later.

Also read Psalm 95:3, Psalm 97:9, Deuteronomy 10:17, Jeremiah 10:10-11

Whatever the LORD pleased, that he has done,in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and earth, in the seas and all the deeps. The verse covers every part of creation. Nothing is outside his reach.

Also read Psalm 33:9, Psalm 136:13-15, Matthew 14:25, Psalm 33:11

He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth.He makes lightnings with the rain.He brings the wind out of his treasuries.

He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

God raises the clouds from the ends of the earth, makes lightning with the rain, and brings the wind out of his treasuries. Weather is presented as his work. The wind is pictured as kept in store until he sends it.

Also read Jeremiah 51:16, Psalm 148:8, Job 5:10, Zechariah 10:1

He struck the firstborn of Egypt,both of man and animal.

Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.

God struck the firstborn of Egypt, both people and animals. The psalm moves from creation to Israel's history. This is the first of the acts it recalls from Egypt.

Also read Exodus 13:15, Psalm 136:10, Psalm 105:36, Psalm 78:51

He sent signs and wonders into the middle of you, Egypt,on Pharaoh, and on all his servants.

Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.

Also read Psalm 136:15, Jeremiah 32:20-21, Psalm 105:27-29, Nehemiah 9:10

He struck many nations,and killed mighty kings—

Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;

Also read Psalm 44:2-3, Numbers 21:24, Psalm 136:17-22

Sihon king of the Amorites,Og king of Bashan,and all the kingdoms of Canaan—

Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:

Also read Deuteronomy 2:30-11, Joshua 10:1-12, Numbers 21:21-35, Deuteronomy 29:7

and gave their land for a heritage,a heritage to Israel, his people.

And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.

Also read Numbers 33:54, Psalm 78:55, Joshua 12:7, Psalm 44:1-3

Your name, LORD, endures forever;your renown, LORD, throughout all generations.

Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.

The LORD's name endures forever and his renown through all generations. The verse sums up the history just recalled. What God did is remembered in every age.

Also read Psalm 8:1, Psalm 8:9, Psalm 102:12, Psalm 72:17

For the LORD will judge his peopleand have compassion on his servants.

For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.

The LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants. Judgement and compassion stand side by side. The history of verses 8 to 12 is set in that light.

Also read Psalm 7:8, Psalm 50:4, 1 Chronicles 21:15, Jonah 4:2

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,the work of men’s hands.

The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They are costly but still man made. The contrast with the LORD of verse 6 is sharp.

Also read Psalm 115:4-8, Isaiah 40:19-20, Deuteronomy 4:28, Acts 17:29

They have mouths, but they can’t speak.They have eyes, but they can’t see.

They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;

Also read Matthew 13:14-16, Isaiah 6:10

They have ears, but they can’t hear,neither is there any breath in their mouths.

They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.

Those who make them will be like them,yes, everyone who trusts in them.

They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.

Those who make idols will become like them, and so will everyone who trusts in them. The idols cannot speak, see or hear, and the verse says their makers will share that emptiness. What people trust shapes them.

Also read Psalm 115:8, Jeremiah 10:8, Isaiah 44:18-20, Psalm 97:7

House of Israel, praise the LORD!House of Aaron, praise the LORD!

Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:

Also read Revelation 19:5, Psalm 148:14, Psalm 147:19-20, Psalm 115:9-11

House of Levi, praise the LORD!You who fear the LORD, praise the LORD!

Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.

Blessed be the LORD from Zion,who dwells in Jerusalem.Praise the LORD!

Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

The psalm ends by blessing the LORD from Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem, and a final call to praise the LORD. The call that opened the psalm closes it. The last word places God among his people.

Also read Psalm 132:13-14, 2 Chronicles 6:6, Psalm 76:2, Isaiah 12:6