USB ~ Psalms 113

Praise of God’s Care for the Poor

1 Hallelujah! Praise, you servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. a

2 Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forever.

3 From the rising of the sun to its settingb let the name of the LORD be praised.

4 High above all nations is the LORD; above the heavens his glory. c

5 Who is like the LORD our God, enthroned on high,

6 d looking down on heaven and earth?

7 He raises the needy from the dust, lifts the poor from the ash heap, e

8 Seats them with princes, the princes of the people,

9 Gives the childless wife a home, the joyful mother of children. f Hallelujah! * Psalm 113 A hymn exhorting the congregation to praise God’s name, i.e., the way in which God is present in the world; the name is mentioned three times in Ps 113:1-3. The divine name is especially honored in the Temple (Ps 113:1) but its recognition is not limited by time (Ps 113:2) and space (Ps 113:3), for God is everywhere active (Ps 113:4-5) especially in rescuing the lowly faithful (Ps 113:7-9).

Footnotes

113:1 Ps 135:1.
113:3 Mal 1:11.
113:4 Ps 148:13.
113:6 Ps 89:7-9.
113:7 Ps 107:41; 1 Sm 2:7-8.
113:9 1 Sm 2:5; Is 54:1.