Psalms 115
115
Psalm 115#sn Psalm 115. The psalmist affirms that Israel’s God is superior to pagan idols and urges Israel to place their confidence in him.
1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us!
But to your name bring honor,#tn Or “give glory.”
for the sake of your loyal love and faithfulness.#sn The psalmist asks the Lord to demonstrate his loyal love and faithfulness, not simply so Israel may benefit, but primarily so that the Lord will receive honor among the nations, who will recognize, contrary to their present view (see v. 2), that Israel’s God is committed to his people.
2 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in heaven!
He does whatever he pleases!#sn He does whatever he pleases. Such sovereignty is characteristic of kings (see Eccl 8:3).
4 Their#tn The referent of the pronominal suffix is “the nations” (v. 2). idols are made of silver and gold –
they are man-made.#tn Heb “the work of the hands of man.”
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see,
6 ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell,
7 hands, but cannot touch,
feet, but cannot walk.
They cannot even clear their throats.#tn Heb “they cannot mutter in their throats.” Verse 5a refers to speaking, v. 7c to inarticulate sounds made in the throat (see M. Dahood, Psalms [AB], 3:140-41).
8 Those who make them will end up#tn Heb “will be.” Another option is to take the prefixed verbal form as a prayer, “may those who make them end up like them.” sn Because the idols are lifeless, they cannot help their worshipers in times of crisis. Consequently the worshipers end up as dead as the gods in which they trust. like them,
as will everyone who trusts in them.
9 O Israel, trust in the Lord!
He is their deliverer#tn Or “[source of] help.” and protector.#tn Heb “and their shield.”
10 O family#tn Heb “house.” of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
He is their deliverer#tn Or “[source of] help.” and protector.#tn Heb “and their shield.”
11 You loyal followers of the Lord,#tn Heb “[you] fearers of the Lord.” See Ps 15:4. trust in the Lord!
He is their deliverer#tn Or “[source of] help.” and protector.#tn Heb “and their shield.”
12 The Lord takes notice of us,#tn Or “remembers us.” he will bless#tn Another option is to translate the prefixed form of the verb “bless” in vv. 12-13 as a jussive, “may he bless” (see v. 14). –
he will bless the family#tn Heb “house.” of Israel,
he will bless the family of Aaron.
13 He will bless his loyal followers,#tn Heb “the fearers of the Lord.”
both young and old.#tn Heb “the small along with the great.” The translation assumes that “small” and “great” here refer to age (see 2 Chr 15:13). Another option is to translate “both the insignificant and the prominent” (see Job 3:19; cf. NEB “high and low alike”).
14 May he increase your numbers,
yours and your children’s!#tn Heb “may he add to you, to you and your sons.” The prefixed verbal form is jussive, indicating this is a prayer.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the creator#tn Or “maker.” of heaven and earth!
16 The heavens belong to the Lord,#tn Heb “the heavens [are] heavens to the Lord.”
but the earth he has given to mankind.#tn Heb “to the sons of man.”
17 The dead do not praise the Lord,
nor do any of those who descend into the silence of death.#tn Heb “silence,” a metonymy here for death (see Ps 94:17).
18 But we will praise the Lord
now and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!
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Psalms 115
115
The Futility of Idols and the Trustworthiness of God
1Not #(Is. 48:11); Ezek. 36:32unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.
2Why should the Gentiles say,
#Ps. 42:3, 10“So where is their God?”
3#(1 Chr. 16:26)But our God is in heaven;
He does whatever He pleases.
4#Deut. 4:28; 2 Kin. 19:18; Is. 37:19; 44:10, 20; Jer. 10:3Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.
5They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
6They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;
7They have hands, but they do not handle;
Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat.
8#Ps. 135:18; Is. 44:9–11Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.
9#Ps. 118:2, 3O Israel, trust in the Lord;
#Ps. 33:20He is their help and their shield.
10O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
11You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
12The Lord has been mindful of us;
He will bless us;
He will bless the house of Israel;
He will bless the house of Aaron.
13#Ps. 128:1, 4He will bless those who fear the Lord,
Both small and great.
14May the Lord give you increase more and more,
You and your children.
15May you be #(Gen. 14:19)blessed by the Lord,
#Gen. 1:1; Acts 14:15; Rev. 14:7Who made heaven and earth.
16The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s;
But the earth He has given to the children of men.
17#Ps. 6:5; 88:10–12; (Is. 38:18)The dead do not praise the Lord,
Nor any who go down into silence.
18#Ps. 113:2; Dan. 2:20But we will bless the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.