Psalm 149 is a festive hymn: “Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: let his praise be in the church of the saints… For the Lord is well pleased with his people: and he will exalt the meek unto salvation.” The Church prays it at Morning Prayer on Sundays, the day of the Resurrection. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 149 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: let his praise be in the church of the saints.
Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: and let the children of Sion be joyful in their king.
Let them praise his name in choir: let them sing to him with the timbrel and the psaltery.
For the Lord is well pleased with his people: and he will exalt the meek unto salvation.
The saints shall rejoice in glory: they shall be joyful in their beds.
The high praise of God shall be in their mouth: and two-edged swords in their hands:
To execute vengeance upon the nations, chastisements among the people:
To bind their kings with fetters, and their nobles with manacles of iron.
To execute upon them the judgment that is written: this glory is to all his saints. Alleluia.
Psalm 149: the same number in every Bible
Psalm 149 has the same number in the Douay-Rheims and in modern Bibles: the Greek and Latin numbering used by the Douay only differs from the Hebrew numbering between Psalms 10 and 147. In Latin the psalm begins Cantate Domino canticum novum: laus eius in ecclesia sanctorum. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- A new song: the joy of God’s people renewed by his saving work.
- “In the church of the saints”: praise is the work of the whole assembly.
- God delights in his people: “the Lord is well pleased with his people.”
- The humble are lifted up: “he will exalt the meek unto salvation.”
- Two-edged swords: Christians read the battle imagery spiritually: the word of God is “sharper than any two edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12), and our fight is against evil, not people.
How the Church uses Psalm 149
- At Morning Prayer (Lauds) on Sunday of Week I, after Psalm 63 and the Canticle of Daniel. See Lauds.
- In the traditional Breviary, one of the “Laudate” psalms that closed Lauds.
A prayer with Psalm 149
Written for this page:
Lord, I sing you a new song with all your saints.
You take delight in your people and crown the humble with salvation.
Fill your Church with joy on this day of the Resurrection,
and arm us with your word against every evil. Alleluia. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
When is Psalm 149 prayed?
At Morning Prayer on Sundays of Week I and on feasts in the Liturgy of the Hours.
How should Christians understand the swords in Psalm 149?
Spiritually: the “two-edged sword” is the word of God (Hebrews 4:12), and the battle is against sin and evil.
More psalms and prayers
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 149; Hebrews 4:12, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.