Christianity

Psalms 148Let All Creation Praise

Summary

Psalm 148 summons the whole universe to praise the LORD. From the heavens it calls angels and hosts, sun, moon and stars of light, and the waters above the heavens, all created at his command. From the earth it calls sea creatures and the deeps, fire, hail, snow and stormy wind, mountains, fruitful trees and cedars, beasts, creeping things and birds, then kings, princes, judges, young men, maidens, old men and children. It closes by praising God for exalting the horn of his people.

Key verse

“Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.”

Psalms 148:13

Themes

Cosmic Praise
Creation by Command
All Peoples Together
God's Name Exalted

Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.

He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:

Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:

Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:

Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Islam
Surah An-Noor (24): The Birds in Their Flight
Quran 24:41 says all who are in the heavens and the earth praise God, and the birds in their flight, each knowing its own worship and praise. Like Psalm 148 it pictures every creature joined in worship.
Christianity
Genesis 1: The Works of Creation
Psalm 148 calls to praise the same works Genesis 1 describes God making, lights, waters, sea creatures, cattle and humankind, turning the creation account into a choir.
Christianity
Revelation 5: Every Creature Praising
Revelation 5:13 describes every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth and in the sea giving praise, a Christian vision of the universal choir Psalm 148 summons.

Questions about Psalms 148

Can nature praise God in Psalm 148?

Psalm 148 calls sun, stars, hail and mountains to praise, which many read as poetry for creation displaying God's glory simply by being what he made it to be. Others take it as a real, if mysterious, worship by all created things.

Which song of St Francis is linked to Psalm 148?

Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Creatures, which praises God through Brother Sun, Sister Moon, wind, water and fire, is often compared with Psalm 148's roll call of creation.