Why Praise?

The Bible teaches that we were created to glorify God through with our lives and our lips (Isaiah 43:7; Psalm 19:14). God is the most valuable, beautiful, and supreme being in the universe, and he is worthy of all of our praise (Romans 11:36; Revelation 4:8). Our omnibenevolent God is so good that he blesses all people at all times with everything we need, and with many gifts we want (Psalm 145:9; Matthew 5:45; Luke 6:35; Acts 14:17; James 1:17). God even sent his son Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins so that he could adopt us into his family “to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). Consequently, we owe it to God to give him thanks and praise in every situation – this is God’s will for us (Psalm 51:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). The final end of all mankind is that we every person will praise Jesus, and we have the privilege of starting now (Philippians 2:10-11; Revelation 4:8).

What Does It Mean to Praise the Lord?

Praising the Lord is something every creature should do (Psalm 117:1-2; Romans 15:8-13). To praise means to adore, celebrate,  and approve of God for who he is what he does (1 Chronicles 16:8-36). Praising the Lord involves meditating on Scriptures about his character and works, remembering his blessings and works with a humble and grateful heart, and expressing his goodness with our lips and our lives.

How Do I Praise the Lord?

Scripture teaches that we can praise God with our words and with our lives (Hebrews 13:15; Romans 12:1). With our words, we offer sacrifices of praise by making much of God, thanking God for who he is and what he does, sharing his goodness with others, and expressing our trust in him through the trials of life (Psalm 135:2; Isaiah 29:13; Nahum 1:7; Job 13:15). With our lives, we offer our bodies as living sacrifices by submitting our will and agenda to his plan for our lives, obeying his commands, striving to be like Jesus, and performing good works (Romans 12:2; Romans 6:12-13; 1 John 2:15-16; Ephesians 2:10).

For specific examples of praise, read our topical praises page and our blog articles about praise.

Scriptures on Praising God

Both the Old and New Testaments have many references to praising God.

Old Testament Scriptures of Praise and Thanksgiving

1 Chronicles 16:29 NIV

29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

Psalm 7:17 ESV

I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High

Psalm 29:2 NIV

2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness

Psalm 33:2-3 ESV

Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shout

Psalm 42:11 ESV

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Psalm 66:4 NIV

All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.”

Psalm 69:30 ESV

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 71:8 ESV

My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.

Psalm 95:1-6 NIV

1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. 3 For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

Psalm 96:9 NIV

Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.

Psalm 99:5 ESV

Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!

Psalm 100 is one of the most recognized and memorized psalms with regards to praise.

A Song of Praise for the Lord’s Faithfulness to His People

A Psalm of Thanksgiving. NKJV

100 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 103:1-4 ESV

Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

Psalm 117:1-2 ESV

Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 147:1 ESV

Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

Psalm 148, Praise the Lord! NKJV

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all you stars of light!
Praise Him, you heavens of heavens,
And you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For He commanded and they were created.
He also established them forever and ever;
He made a decree which shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
You great sea creatures and all the depths;
Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;
10 Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl;
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
12 Both young men and maidens;
Old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above the earth and heaven.
14 And He has exalted the horn of His people,
The praise of all His saints—
Of the children of Israel,
A people near to Him.

Praise the Lord!

Praise to God for His Salvation and Judgment

Psalm 149 Praise the Lord! NKJV

Sing to the Lord a new song,
And His praise in the assembly of saints.

Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise His name with the dance;
Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the humble with salvation.

Let the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds.
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples;
To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;
To execute on them the written judgment—
This honor have all His saints.

Praise the Lord!

Let All Things Praise the Lord

Psalm 150 Praise the Lord! NKJV

Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord!

Jeremiah 17:14 NIV

Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed;
    save me and I will be saved,
    for you are the one I praise.

Jeremiah 20:13 ESV

Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.

Isaiah 12:5 NIV

5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.

Isaiah 25:1 ESV

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

 Daniel 4:37 ESV

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

New Testament Scriptures of Praise and Thanksgiving

Matthew 4:10 NIV

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'”

Luke 4:8 NIV

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’

John 4:23-24 NIV

23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Colossians 3:16-17 NIV

16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Hebrews 12:28 NIV

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

Hebrews 13:15 NIV

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that openly profess his name

Romans 12:1 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship

Ephesians 5:19 ESV

Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,