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Psalm 113[a]

Praise of God’s Care for the Poor

1 Hallelujah!

I

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 setting(B)
    let the name of the Lord be praised.

II

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!

Footnotes

  1. 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).