(2) Praise.--Tehillah, a term that has become technical for a liturgic hymn. (Tehillim is the general Hebrew word for the psalter. See Gen. Introduction.) The psalmist asks in this verse who is worthy or privileged to sing a tehillah, and replies himself that loyalty to the covenant confers this privilege.

Verse 2. - Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? (comp. Psalm 50:2; and for the impossibility of expressing God's greatness, see Job 11:7-9; Psalm 92:5; Isaiah 40:12-17; Romans 11:33-36). Who can show forth all his praise? i.e. "all the praise really due to him."

106:1-5 None of our sins or sufferings should prevent our ascribing glory and praise to the Lord. The more unworthy we are, the more is his kindness to be admired. And those who depend on the Redeemer's righteousness will endeavour to copy his example, and by word and deed to show forth his praise. God's people have reason to be cheerful people; and need not envy the children of men their pleasure or pride.Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord?.... Or powers (i); to which answers the Greek word for the miracles of Christ, Matthew 11:20, and Kimchi here restrains them to the wonders wrought in Egypt, and at the Red sea: but they may as well be extended to the mighty acts of God, and the effects of his power, in the creation of all things out of nothing; in the sustaining and government of the world; in the redemption of his people by Christ; in the conversion of sinners, and in the final perseverance of the saints; in all which there are such displays of the power of God as cannot be uttered and declared by mortal tongues.

Who can show forth all his praise? all those things done by him, worthy of praise, they are so many and so great? see Psalm 40:5.

(i) "potentias", V. L. Michaelis; "virtutes", Cocceius.