The Book of Psalms is called in Hebrew Tehillim, “Praises,” and it ends with a burst of praise: “Let every spirit praise the Lord. Alleluia.” Below are nine of the great psalms of praise and thanksgiving, each with its key verses in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible, a short explanation, and a link to the full psalm, followed by how to make them part of your daily prayer.
1. Psalm 117: the shortest psalm
O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.
Only two verses long, it calls every nation to praise God for his mercy and faithfulness (Psalm 116 in the Douay-Rheims). St. Paul quotes it in Romans 15:11.
2. Psalm 100: serve the Lord with gladness
A psalm of praise.
Sing joyfully to God, all the earth: serve ye the Lord with gladness. Come in before his presence with exceeding great joy.
Know ye that the Lord he is God: he made us, and not we ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Go ye into his gates with praise, into his courts with hymns: and give glory to him. Praise ye his name:
For the Lord is sweet, his mercy endureth for ever, and his truth to generation and generation.
A joyful call to worship, sometimes used to open the Liturgy of the Hours. Read the full Psalm 100.
3. Psalm 103: bless the Lord, O my soul
For David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and let all that is within me bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all he hath done for thee.
Praise for God’s mercy and forgiveness. Read the full Psalm 103.
4. Psalm 145: every day I will bless you
I will extol thee, O God my king: and I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.
Every day I will bless thee: and I will praise thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: and of his greatness there is no end.
Praise of God’s greatness and his care for every creature. Read the full Psalm 145.
5. Psalm 148: all creation praises God
Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise ye him in the high places.
Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
Praise ye him, O sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars and light.
Praise him, ye heavens of heavens: and let all the waters that are above the heavens
Praise the name of the Lord. For he spoke, and they were made: he commanded, and they were created.
Angels, sun, moon, stars, sea creatures, mountains, kings and children: all creation is invited to praise the Lord. St. Francis echoed it in his Canticle of the Sun.
6. Psalm 150: let everything that breathes praise the Lord
Praise ye the Lord in his holy places: praise ye him in the firmament of his power.
Praise ye him for his mighty acts: praise ye him according to the multitude of his greatness.
Praise him with sound of trumpet: praise him with psaltery and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and choir: praise him with strings and organs.
Praise him on high sounding cymbals: praise him on cymbals of joy: let every spirit praise the Lord. Alleluia.
The grand finale of the Psalter. Read the full Psalm 150.
7. Psalm 96: sing a new song
A canticle for David himself, when the house was built after the captivity. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: shew forth his salvation from day to day.
The psalm of Christmas night. Read the full Psalm 96.
8. Psalm 8: how admirable is your name
O Lord our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth! For thy magnificence is elevated above the heavens.
Wonder at God’s glory in creation. Read the full Psalm 8.
9. Psalm 113: from the rising of the sun
Praise the Lord, ye children: praise ye the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever.
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the name of the Lord is worthy of praise.
Praise at every hour for the God who lifts up the lowly. Read the full Psalm 113.
How to pray the psalms of praise
- Begin the day with praise: the Church’s Morning Prayer always includes psalms of praise. See Lauds.
- Praise before asking: before you bring your needs to God, thank him for who he is and what he has done.
- Sing them: many hymns are based on these psalms, such as “Joy to the World” (Psalm 98). See Catholic hymns.
- Praise in hard times: the psalms of praise are not only for happy days; praising God in trouble is an act of faith.
- End with the Glory Be, as the Church does after every psalm. See the Glory Be.
A prayer of praise
Written for this page:
I praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I bless your holy name.
You made the heavens and the earth, and you made me.
You forgive my sins, heal my wounds and crown me with mercy.
Let everything that breathes praise you, and let my whole life be a song of praise,
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
What are the psalms of praise?
Many psalms praise God, especially Psalms 8, 96, 100, 103, 113, 117, 145 and the final “Hallelujah” psalms, 146 to 150.
What is the shortest psalm?
Psalm 117 (116 in the Douay-Rheims), only two verses long, is a psalm of praise.
What does Hallelujah mean?
“Praise the Lord” in Hebrew (in Latin, Alleluia). Several psalms begin or end with it.
More psalms and prayers of praise
- Psalm 66 (Shout joyfully to God, all the earth)
- Psalm 146 (Praise the Lord, my soul)
- Psalm 149 (Sing a new song with the saints)
- Psalm 93 (The Lord is King, robed in majesty)
- Psalm 97 (The Lord is King, let the earth rejoice)
- Psalm 33 (Rejoice in the Lord, O you just)
- Psalm 47 (the Ascension psalm)
- Psalm 29 (The voice of the Lord upon the waters)
- Psalm 117 (the shortest psalm)
- Psalm 148 (All creation praises God)
- Psalms of thanksgiving
- Catholic prayers of gratitude
- Te Deum
- Psalms for protection
- Psalms for healing
- How many psalms are there?
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalms 116 (117), 99 (100), 102 (103), 144 (145), 148, 150, 95 (96), 8, 112 (113); Romans 15:11, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.