▼117:1 Verse 1: Usually ‘praise the LORD’ is ‘hallelujah’ in Hebrew. The Jews spoke Hebrew and wrote the psalms in Hebrew. Here they use a different Hebrew word. ‘Praise’ means ‘tell someone that they are great.’ ‘LORD’ is another word for God. It is his covenant name. A covenant is when two people, or groups of people, agree. Here God agrees to love and give help to his people when they need it. His people agree to love and obey God.

But who are ‘his people?’ Here it is not only the Jews. It is all the people in the world, if they will love and obey him!

▼117:2 Verse 2: ‘Very strong’ is a Hebrew word that means ‘will win the war.’ God loves everybody in the world and he will try to ‘win the war’ for their love and obedience. ‘Obedience’ is another word for ‘obeying.’ ‘Praise the LORD’ at the end of the verse is ‘hallelujah’ this time!