The LORD is close to all who call on Him,
to all who call on Him in truth.
He fulfils the will of those who revere Him;
He hears their cry and saves them.
The LORD guards all who love Him,
but all the wicked He will destroy.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD,
and all creatures shall bless His holy name for ever and all time.
We will bless the LORD now and for ever. Halleluyah!
PSALM 146
Halleluyah! Praise the LORD, O my soul. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing to my GOD as long as I live. Put not your trust in princes, or in mortal man who cannot save. His breath expires, he returns to the earth; on that day his plans come to an end. Happy is he whose help is the GOD of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his GOD who made heaven and earth, the sea and all they contain; He who keeps faith for ever. He secures justice for the oppressed. He gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free. The LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD raises those bowed down. The LORD loves the righteous. The LORD protects the stranger. He gives courage to the orphan and widow. He thwarts the way of the wicked. The LORD shall reign for ever. He is your GOD, O Zion, for all generations. Halleluyah!
PSALM 147
Halleluyah! How good it is to sing songs to our GOD; how pleasant and fitting to praise Him. The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem. He gathers the scattered exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars, calling each by name. Great is our LORD and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit. The LORD gives courage to the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the LORD in thanks; make music to our GOD on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds. He provides the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He gives food to the cattle and to the ravens when they cry. He does not take delight in the strength of horses nor pleasure in the fleetness of man. The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His loving care. Praise the LORD, Jerusalem; sing to your GOD, Zion, for He has strengthened the bars of your gates and blessed your children in your midst. He has brought peace to your borders, and satisfied you with the finest wheat. He sends His commandment to earth; swiftly runs His word. He spreads snow like fleece, sprinkles frost like ashes, scatters hail like crumbs. Who can stand His cold? He sends His word and melts them; He makes the wind blow and the waters flow. He has declared his words to Jacob, His statutes and laws to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; such laws they do not know. Halleluyah!
PSALM 148
Halleluyah! Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise Him in the heights. Praise Him, all His angels, praise Him, all His hosts. Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all shining stars. Praise Him, highest heavens and the waters above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created. He established them for ever and all time, issuing a decree that will never change. Praise the LORD from the earth: sea monsters and all the deep seas, fire and hail, snow and mist, storm winds that obey His word; mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and winged birds; kings of the earth and all nations, princes and all judges on earth; youths and maidens, old and young. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is sublime; His majesty is above earth and heaven. He has raised the pride of His people, for the glory of all His devoted ones, the children of Israel, the people close to Him. Halleluyah!
PSALM 149
Halleluyah! Sing to the LORD a new song, His praise in the assembly of the devoted. Let Israel rejoice in its Maker; let the children of Zion exult in their King. Let them praise His name with dancing; sing praises to Him with timbrel and harp. For the LORD delights in His people; He adorns the humble with salvation. Let the devoted revel in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. Let high praises of GOD be in their throats, and a two-edged sword in their hand: to impose retribution on the nations, punishment on the peoples, binding their kings with chains, their nobles with iron fetters, carrying out the judgement written against them. This is the glory of all His devoted ones. Halleluyah!
PSALM 150
Halleluyah!
Praise GOD in His holy place;
praise Him in the heavens of His power.
Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
praise Him for His surpassing greatness.
Praise Him with blasts of the ram’s horn;
praise Him with the harp and lyre.
Praise Him with timbrel and dance;
praise Him with strings and flute.
Praise Him with clashing cymbals;
praise Him with resounding cymbals.
Let all that breathes praise the LORD. Halleluyah!
Let all that breathes praise the LORD. Halleluyah!
Blessed be the LORD for ever. Amen and Amen. Blessed from Zion be the LORD who dwells in Jerusalem. Halleluyah! Blessed be the LORD, GOD of Israel, who alone does wonders. Blessed be His glorious name for ever, and may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.
Stand from this point until after “Bless the LORD” on page 63.
I CHRONICLES 29:10–13
David blessed the LORD in front of the entire assembly. David said, “Blessed are You, LORD, GOD of our father Israel, for ever and ever. Yours, LORD, are the greatness and the power, the glory, majesty and splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honour are in Your giftand You reign over all things. In Your hand are strength and might. It is in Your power to make great and give strength to all. Therefore, our GOD, we thank You and praise Your glorious name.”
NEHEMIAH 9:6–11
You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their hosts, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all they contain. You give life to them all, and the hosts of heaven worship You. You are the LORD GOD who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees, changing his name to Abraham. You found his heart faithful towards You –
And You made a covenant with him to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites. You fulfilled Your promise for You are righteous. You saw
