Text -- Psalms 148:4-14 (NET)

148:4 Praise him, O highest heaven, and you waters above the sky! 148:5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he gave the command and they came into existence. 148:6 He established them so they would endure; he issued a decree that will not be revoked. 148:7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea creatures and all you ocean depths, 148:8 O fire and hail, snow and clouds, O stormy wind that carries out his orders, 148:9 you mountains and all you hills, you fruit trees and all you cedars, 148:10 you animals and all you cattle, you creeping things and birds, 148:11 you kings of the earth and all you nations, you princes and all you leaders on the earth, 148:12 you young men and young women, you elderly, along with you children! 148:13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty extends over the earth and sky. 148:14 He has made his people victorious, and given all his loyal followers reason to praise– the Israelites, the people who are close to him. Praise the Lord!

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Psa 148:4

¹ sn The “water” mentioned here corresponds to the “waters above” mentioned in Gen 1:7. See also Ps 104:3. For a discussion of the picture envisioned by the psalmist, see L. I. J. Stadelmann, The Hebrew Conception of the World, 47.

NET Notes: Psa 148:6

¹ tn Or “forever and ever.”

² tn Heb “and it will not pass away.”

NET Notes: Psa 148:8

¹ tn In Ps 119:83 the noun refers to “smoke,” but here, where the elements of nature are addressed, the clouds, which resemble smoke, are probably in view.

² tn Heb “[that] does his word.”

NET Notes: Psa 148:11

¹ tn Or “judges.”

NET Notes: Psa 148:14

¹ tn Heb “and he lifted up a horn for his people.” The horn of an ox underlies the metaphor (see Deut 33:17; 1 Kgs 22:11; Ps 92:10). The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “exalt/lift up the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 75:10; 89:17, 24; 92:10; Lam 2:17). Another option is to take the “horn” as a symbol for the Davidic king, through whom the Lord gives his people military victory.

² tn “[there is] praise for all his loyal followers, to the sons of Israel, the people near him.” Here “praise” stands by metonymy for the victory that prompts it.