Psalm 150
King James Version
The final psalm, a short doxology calling every instrument and everything that has breath to praise the LORD.
Download the handwriting worksheet (PDF)Printable, ruled for handwriting: copy it by hand, then type it here.
About this text
Psalm 150 is the final psalm in the Book of Psalms, and it functions as a doxology — a closing hymn of pure praise — not just for itself but, many scholars believe, for the whole five-book collection of Psalms. Its structure is almost entirely a list of ways and places to praise, ending with the sweeping "let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD."
Nearly every verse follows the same short pattern — "praise him with..." or "praise him for..." — naming a different instrument or reason each time: trumpet, psaltery, harp, timbrel, dance, strings, cymbals. Copying it is a chance to notice how a passage can feel varied and energetic while actually repeating one grammatical frame six times in a row.
What to watch for
- 5 colons: a colon points ahead to what explains or completes the first half of the sentence.
- Capital letters in the middle of a sentence: LORD, God. Ask why each one is capitalized before typing it.
- Old-fashioned words: ye, hath. These are easy to "correct" by accident into modern spelling, so copy them exactly as written.
- Longest word: "instruments" (11 letters). Try spelling it aloud once before reaching it.
- 6 lines averaging about 14 words each. A comfortable line length for a single sitting.
Full text (reference)
1Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.