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Praise the Lord. 1
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
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The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the exiles of Israel.
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He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
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He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
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Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
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The Lord sustains the humble
but casts the wicked to the ground.
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Sing to the Lord with grateful praise;
make music to our God on the harp.
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He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.
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He provides food for the cattle
and for the young ravens when they call.
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His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
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the Lord delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.
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Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;
praise your God, Zion.
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He strengthens the bars of your gates
and blesses your people within you.
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He grants peace to your borders
and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
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He sends his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
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He spreads the snow like wool
and scatters the frost like ashes.
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He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?
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He sends his word and melts them;
he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.
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He has revealed his word to Jacob,
his laws and decrees to Israel.
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He has done this for no other nation;
they do not know his laws. 2
Praise the Lord.