“Praise Yahweh!
All you nations!
Extol him!
All you peoples!
Great is his steadfast love
Toward us.
The faithfulness of Yahweh
Endures forever.
Praise Yahweh!”
Psalm 117 is the shortest psalm with only two verses. This is really a doxology or praise refrain. All the nations and people are to praise Yahweh for his great steadfast love and enduring faithfulness. This psalm begins and ends with the refrain of “Praise Yahweh,” “alleluia,” the Hebrew “Hallelujah.”
A song, a psalm of David
“My heart is steadfast!
O God!
My heart is steadfast!
I will sing!
I will make melody!
Awake!
My soul!
Awake!
O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
I will give thanks to you
Among the peoples!
Yahweh!
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
Your steadfast love is higher than the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.”
Psalm 108 seems to be compilation of 2 other psalms, Psalm 57 and Psalm 60. The title is simply a song or psalm of David. This first section is almost word for word from Psalm 57. David was steadfast in his love, just as God had shown his steadfast love to him. He was ready to sing and make melody on the harp and lyre. He wanted his soul to wake up. He was going to wake the morning dawn. He was going to give thanks to Yahweh among all the people. He would sing his praises among the nations because God’s love was as high as the heavens. His faithfulness extended beyond the clouds. David loved Yahweh as Yahweh loved David.
“Praise Yahweh!
O give thanks to Yahweh!
He is good!
His steadfast love endures forever!
Who can utter the mighty deeds of Yahweh?
Who can declare all his praise?
Happy are those
Who observe justice!
Happy are those
Who do righteousness at all times!”
Psalm 106 is a continuation of Psalm 105, but is less joyful since it points out the many problems that the Israelites had. Once again there is no title to this psalm. However, it starts out with a rousing hymn to Yahweh. Praise Yahweh or alleluia, is the Hebrew “Hallelujah.” They are to give thanks to Yahweh because he is good. His steadfast love endures forever, a theme that is repeated over and over again. Who can say what all the mighty deeds of Yahweh are? Who can declare his praise? However, the happy ones are those who observe justice and are righteous all the time.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 