Psalms 147:15-20

147:15 He ¹  sends his command through the earth; ² 

swiftly his order reaches its destination. ³ 

147:16 He sends the snow that is white like wool;

he spreads the frost that is white like ashes. ⁴ 

147:17 He throws his hailstones ⁵  like crumbs.

Who can withstand the cold wind he sends? ⁶ 

147:18 He then orders it all to melt; ⁷ 

he breathes on it, ⁸  and the water flows.

147:19 He proclaims his word to Jacob,

his statutes and regulations to Israel.

147:20 He has not done so with any other nation;

they are not aware of his regulations.

Praise the Lord!

[147:15]  ¹ tn Heb “the one who.”

[147:15]  ² tn Heb “the one who sends his word, the earth.” The Hebrew term אֶרֶץ (’erets, “earth”) is an adverbial accusative; one must supply a preposition before it (such as “through” or “to”) in the English translation.

[147:15]  ³ tn Heb “swiftly his word runs.”

[147:16]  ⁴ tn Heb “the one who gives snow like wool, frost like ashes he scatters.”

[147:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “his ice.”

[147:17]  ⁶ tn Heb “Before his cold, who can stand?”

[147:18]  ⁷ tn Heb “he sends his word and melts them.”

[147:18]  ⁸ tn Heb “he blows his breath.”