Why read Psalm 149?
Read Psalm 149 to express joy in faith and praise with the community. Its celebration is connected with God's justice; its images of battle are not an encouragement to personal violence.
You can read this psalm when its themes speak to your circumstances, or as part of your regular reading of the Psalter. This explanation draws on the text itself; the psalm is not reserved for one particular need.
In the 20th Kathisma of the Psalter, Psalm 149 awaits its reader with 9 verses of prayer arising from a real experience. It begins with “Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise...” — and from there onwards, everything is a dialogue between the human being and God.
The text of Psalm 149
1. Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the holy ones.
2. Let Israel rejoice in Him who made it, and let the children of Zion be glad in their King.
3. Let them praise His name in the round dance; with drums and psaltery let them sing to Him.
4. For the Lord loves His people and will teach the meek and deliver them.
5. The holy ones will boast in glory and rejoice upon their beds.
6. The praises of the Lord are in their mouths and double-edged swords in their hands,
7. To take vengeance on the nations and punish the peoples,
8. To bind their kings in fetters and their illustrious ones in iron chains,
9. To carry out among them the written judgement. This glory belongs to all His holy ones.
When Psalm 149 is read
- It belongs to the 20th Kathisma and is recited in personal prayer, especially for peace and understanding.
- At the end of each psalm, tradition adds: «Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.».
Adjacent psalms
Read also
The numbering follows the Orthodox Psalter (Septuagint). The same psalm may have a different number in other Bible editions.
