Old Testament
Psalm 117
1Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!
2For his loving kindness is great toward us. The LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD!
Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE
Psalm 117
Psalm 117 is read especially through the theme of praise, within Book V (Psalms 107–150). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.
PraiseKingship
READ IN CONTEXT
Understanding Psalm 117
Psalm 117 is read especially through the theme of praise, within Book V (Psalms 107–150). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application. Read it within the complete five-book Psalms collection, then compare its prayer language with the types of prayer found across Scripture. Classification is a reading aid rather than a replacement for the Psalm's own movement and tension.
Collection
Book V (Psalms 107–150). The five-book shape of the Psalter helps readers hear individual prayers within a deliberately arranged collection.
Themes detected
Praise, Kingship. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.
TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES
What to notice in Psalm 117
Psalm 117 contains 2 verses and about 27 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.
The opening movement
Verse 1 begins: “Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.
The closing movement
Verse 2 closes: “For his loving kindness is great toward us. The LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD!” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.
Vocabulary worth tracing
Recurring or prominent content words include praise, nations, extol, peoples, loving, kindness. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.
COMMON QUESTIONS
About Psalm 117
Which Bible translation is shown here?+
This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.
How should I cite a specific verse?+
Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Psalms 117:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.
Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+
Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.
What kind of Psalm is this?+
Our reading profile emphasizes praise, with related themes of Praise, Kingship. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.