“Praise ye the LORD” is the way a run of psalms begins, and it is the English for the Hebrew word Hallelujah. Psalms 111, 112, 113, 135, 146, 147 and 148 open with it, and Psalm 146 ends with it as well. The call goes to different listeners: to “servants of the LORD” in Psalm 113, and in Psalm 117 to “all ye nations.” Psalm 147 gives a simple reason, “it is good to sing praises unto our God.” The word turns up again in the last book of the Bible, where John hears “a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia.” Psalm 146 is a good one to read slowly.
11 verses
Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.
Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
Matthew George Easton, 1897
Praise ye Jehovah, frequently rendered “Praise ye the LORD,” stands at the beginning of ten of the psalms (106, 111-113, 135, 146-150), hence called “hallelujah psalms.” From its frequent occurrence it grew into a formula of praise. The Greek form of the word (alleluia) is found in Rev. 19:1, 3, 4, 6.
William Smith, 1884
(praise ye the Lord). [ALLELUIA]