Psalms 115
115
The One True God
1To you alone, O LORD, to you alone,
and not to us, must glory be given
because of your constant love and faithfulness.
2Why should the nations ask us,
“Where is your God?”
3Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever he wishes.
4 #
Ps 135.15–18; Rev 9.20 Their gods are made of silver and gold,
formed by human hands.
5They have mouths, but cannot speak,
and eyes, but cannot see.
6They have ears, but cannot hear,
and noses, but cannot smell.
7They have hands, but cannot feel,
and feet, but cannot walk;
they cannot make a sound.
8May all who made them and who trust in them
become#115.8 May all… become; or All who made them and who trust in them will become. like the idols they have made.
9Trust in the LORD, you people of Israel.
He helps you and protects you.
10Trust in the LORD, you priests of God.
He helps you and protects you.
11Trust in the LORD, all you that worship him.
He helps you and protects you.
12The LORD remembers us and will bless us;
he will bless the people of Israel
and all the priests of God.
13 #
Rev 11.18; 19.5 He will bless everyone who honours him,
the great and the small alike.
14May the LORD give you children —
you and your descendants!
15May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth!
16Heaven belongs to the LORD alone,
but he gave the earth to the human race.
17The LORD is not praised by the dead,
by any who go down to the land of silence.#115.17 land of silence: The world of the dead (see 6.5).
18But we, the living, will give thanks to him
now and for ever.
Praise the LORD!
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
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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