“Mighty acts” points to God’s concrete, powerful doings—actions that show strength and effectiveness, not just abstract ideas. “Excellent greatness” points to God’s surpassing magnitude and honor. The movement is from deeds (what God has done) to greatness (who God is), and from reasons to a fitting extent.

Where interpretation differs

Some readers take “mighty acts” mainly as specific historical deliverances remembered by Israel (for example, rescue, protection, provision). Others read the phrase more broadly to include God’s works in creation and ongoing governance of the world, and even personal experiences of help.

A second difference concerns “according to.” Some understand it as intensity or proportion (praise that corresponds to God’s greatness). Others hear more of a “standard” or “basis” (praise that is shaped by, and consistent with, God’s greatness), without trying to measure how much praise is “enough.”

Why the disagreement exists

The verse is short and does not list which acts are meant, so readers supply examples from wider biblical themes or from Israel’s shared worship memory. Also, the Hebrew idea behind “according to” can be heard as proportion, standard, or alignment, and the verse does not narrow it to only one nuance.

What this passage clearly contributes

Explicitly, the text ties praise to God’s revealed action (“mighty acts”) and to God’s unmatched character (“excellent greatness”). By adding “according to,” it presents God’s greatness as the scale or reference point for praise, not the worshiper’s mood, setting, or circumstances. It also reinforces that praising God can be grounded both in particular remembered works and in the broader confession that God’s greatness surpasses any single event.

greatness (guḏ·lōw)