the raptures of Psalm 148

 "The hyperbolic flights of the Psalmist may often be followed with approbation, even with rapture; and I have no hesitation in giving him the palm over all the Hymnists of every language, and of every time. Turn to the 148th psalm, in Brady and Tate's version Have such conceptions been ever before expressed?"

                                                       -  Thomas Jefferson in a letter to John Adams, Oct. 12, 1813

Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all his Angels, praise him, all his hosts.
Praise him, O sun and moon, praise him, all shining stars.
Praise him, O heavens of heavens, and the waters which are above the heavens:
let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and forever: he gave a law, which shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth, ye sea-monsters and all the depths of the sea.
Let fire and hail, snow and mist, let the storm-wind, which fulfills his word,
let mountains and all hills, let fruit trees and all cedars,
let wild beasts and all cattle, let reptiles and feathered birds,
let kings of the earth and all nations, let princes and all judges of the earth,
let young men and virgins too, let old men together with children:
let them praise the name of the Lord, because his name alone is exalted;
his majesty transcends the earth and heaven, he has given a high horn to his people.
Praise for all his faithful, for the children of Israel, for a people that is under him.
Amen.

(not the Brady-Tate version)