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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Psalm 148

Psalm 148 is read especially through the theme of praise, within Book V (Psalms 107–150). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.

PraiseCreationKingship
Psalms overview
Old Testament

Psalm 148

1Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens! Praise him in the heights!

2Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his army!

3Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars!

4Praise him, you heavens of heavens, you waters that are above the heavens.

5Let them praise the LORD’s name, for he commanded, and they were created.

6He has also established them forever and ever. He has made a decree which will not pass away.

7Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures, and all depths,

8lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy wind, fulfilling his word,

9mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,

10wild animals and all livestock, small creatures and flying birds,

11kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth,

12both young men and maidens, old men and children.

13Let them praise the LORD’s name, for his name alone is exalted. His glory is above the earth and the heavens.

14He has lifted up the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints, even of the children of Israel, a people near to him. Praise the LORD!

READ IN CONTEXT

Understanding Psalm 148

Psalm 148 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, Creation, Kingship. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Psalm 148

Psalm 148 contains 14 verses and about 193 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! Praise the LORD from the heavens! Praise him in the heights!” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 14 closes: “He has lifted up the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints, even of the children of Israel, a people near to him. 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, heavens, earth, name, above, lord’s. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Psalm 148

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 148:1—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, Creation, Kingship. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.

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