St. Paul’s Church in Englewood Winter 2020 Adult Forum February 7, 2021 - Psalm 147:1-12, 21c, Laudate Dominum

Coverdale/ Book of Common Prayer King James New Revised Standard The Message

1 ! 1 Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to 1 Praise the Lord! 1 Praise the Eternal! How good it is to sing praises to our sing praises unto our God; for it is How good it is to sing praises to our It is good to sing praises to our God, God! * pleasant; and praise is comely. God; for praise is beautiful and pleasant. how pleasant it is to honor him with for he is gracious, and a song of praise praise! 2 The Lord doth build up : he is ftting. 2 The Eternal, Architect of earth, is gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. building Jerusalem, 2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; * 2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; fnding the lost, gathering Israel’s he gathers the exiles of Israel. 3 He healeth the broken in heart, and he gathers the outcasts of Israel. outcasts. bindeth up their wounds. 3 He heals the brokenhearted * 3 He heals the brokenhearted, 3 He binds their wounds, and binds up their wounds. 4 He telleth the number of the stars; he and binds up their wounds. heals the sorrows of their hearts. calleth them all by their names. 4 He counts the number of the stars * 4 He determines the number of the 4 He counts all the stars within His and calls them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: stars; hands, his understanding is infnite. he gives to all of them their names. carefully fxing their number 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in and giving them names. power; * 6 The Lord lifteth up the meek: he 5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in there is no limit to his wisdom. casteth the wicked down to the ground. power; 5 Our Lord is great. Nothing is his understanding is beyond measure. impossible with His overwhelming 6 The Lord lifts up the lowly, * 7 Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; power. but casts the wicked to the ground. sing praise upon the harp unto our God: 6 The Lord lifts up the downtrodden; He is loving, compassionate, and wise he casts the wicked to the ground. beyond all measure. 7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; * 8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, make music to our God upon the harp. who prepareth rain for the earth, who 7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; 6 The Eternal will lift up the lowly maketh grass to grow upon the make melody to our God on the lyre. but throw down the wicked to the 8 He covers the heavens with clouds * mountains. earth. and prepares rain for the earth; 8 He covers the heavens with clouds, 9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to prepares rain for the earth, Psalm 147 is a postexilic hymn of praise 9 He makes grass to grow upon the the young ravens which cry. makes grass grow on the hills. to God as Creator and Sustainer. It mountains * 9 He gives to the animals their food, celebrates the rebuilding of the walls and and green plants to serve mankind. 10 He delighteth not in the strength of and to the young ravens when they gates that protect Jerusalem. God secures the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the cry. the city, grants peace to the border towns, 10 He provides food for focks and herds legs of a man. and controls the elements. * 10 His delight is not in the strength of and for the young ravens when they cry. 11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them the horse, 7 Open your mouths with thanks! that fear him, in those that hope in his nor his pleasure in the speed of a Sing praises to the Eternal! 11 He is not impressed by the might of a mercy. runner; Strum the harp in unending praise to horse; * our God he has no pleasure in the strength of a 12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise 11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those man; thy God, O . who fear him, 8 Who blankets the heavens with clouds, in those who hope in his steadfast sends rain to water the thirsty earth, 12 But the Lord has pleasure in those love. and pulls up each blade of grass upon who fear him, * the mountainside. in those who await his gracious favor. 12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 9 He opens His hands to feed all the 21 Hallelujah! animals and scatters seed to nestlings when they cry.

10 He takes no pleasure in the raw strength of horses; He fnds no joy in the speed of the sprinter.

11 But the Eternal does take pleasure in those who worship Him, those who invest hope in His unfailing love.

12 O Jerusalem, praise the Eternal! O Zion, praise your God! Collect for this Sunday Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. .

1. Read the passage once: Where did you stop?

2. Read the passage again: What words, phrases, or images capture your imagination?

3. Read the passage again: What is a question you would like ask of a theologian, mystic, or expert of some other title?

4. Read the passage again: Where do you feel the Holy Spirit of God nudging you to be, journey, pray, wait, serve, or do?