1An exhortation to God's servants to praise him for his goodness, 5his power, 8and judgments against his people's enemies. 15The vanity of idols. 19An exhortation to bless God.
1PRAISE ye the LORD.1 Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.
1 See the annotations on Psalm 104 on verse 35, and Psalm 106 on verse 1.
2Ye that 2stand 3in the house of the LORD, 4in the courts of the house of our God,
2 That is, serve. See Deut. 1 on verse 38; Psalm 134 on verse 1.
3 That is, in the tabernacle or in the temple. He speaks here unto the priests and Levites or also to the people.
4 Thus he says: because there were two courts, the one for the priests and Levites, and the other for the people, 2 Chron. 4:9.
3Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for 5it is pleasant.
5 Other, for he is pleasant, namely, to sing psalms unto Him, Psalm 147:1.
4For the LORD hath chosen 6Jacob unto himself, and 7Israel fora his peculiar treasure.
6 Namely, Jacob and all his offspring. See Exod. 19:5.
7 That is, Israel and his descendants.
a Exod. 19:5; Deut. 7:6; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9.
5For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is 8above all 9gods.
8 Or, more than.
9 That is, all idols, which the Gentiles invent and devise for themselves.
6Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
7He causethb the vapours to ascend 10from the ends of the earth; 11he maketh lightnings 12for the rain; he bringeth the wind 13out of his treasuries.
b Jer. 10:13; 51:16.
10 That is, from the sea which is at the ends of the earth.
11 That is, He causes it to lighten and rain both together, notwithstanding, that water and fire are of contrary natures.
12 Or, by, or besides, or unto the rain.
13 Wherein He keeps them shut up, as His treasures, as Job 38:22.
8Whoc smote the firstborn 14of Egypt, 15both of man and beast.
c Exod. 12:12, 29; Psalm 78:51.
14 Or, of the Egyptians.
15 Hebr. from man unto beast.
9Whod sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.
d Read the histories of Exodus, namely, Exod. 7; 8; 9; 10 and 14.
10Who smote 16great nations,e and slew mighty kings;
16 Or, many.
e Joshua 12.
11Sihon king of the Amorites, and 17Og king of Bashan, and 18all the kingdoms of Canaan:
17 A giant, who had an iron bedstead, nine cubits long and four wide, Num. 21:33, 35; Deut. 3:11.
18 In number thirty-one, as may be read in Joshua 12:9-24.
12Andf gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.
f Psalm 78:55.
13Thy name, O LORD, 19endureth for ever; and 20thyg memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.
19 That is, is. And understood in the next phrase.
20 That is, the manifestation and witness of the mercies, which Thou shewedst unto Thy people, doth last forever.
g Psalm 102:12.
14Forh21the LORD will 22judge his people, and 23he will repent himself concerning his servants.
hDeut. 32:36.
21 As if he would say: Although the Lord does sometime grievously chastise His people for their sins, so that it would seem His kindness does not always remain upon them, yet, when He has chastised them for a time, He will repent of it and assuredly deliver them out of the hands of their enemies.
22 See the annotation at Gen. 15 on verse 14.
23 That is, His anger shall be changed into kindness; spoken after the manner of men. See Gen. 6:6.
15Thei24idols of the heathen 25are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
iPsalm 115:4, etc.
24 Hebr. the smarts or pains. See the annotation 1 Sam. 31 on verse 9.
25 That is, made of silver and gold. This verse and some next following are likewise found in Psalm 115. See the annotations there.
16They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
17They have ears, but they hear not; 26neither is there any breath in their mouths.
26 Other, also there is no substance or being of breath in their mouth.
18They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
19Bless the LORD, 27O house of Israel: bless the LORD, 28O house of Aaron:
27 Or, thou of the house of Israel.
28 Or, thou of the house of Aaron.
20Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.
21Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.