Psalms 115
115
Psalm 115
1Don’t give glory to us, O Lord.
Don’t give glory to us.
Instead, give glory to your name
because of your mercy and faithfulness.
2Why should other nations say, “Where is their God?”
3Our God is in heaven.
He does whatever he wants.
4Their idols are made of silver and gold.
They were made by human hands.#115:4 Verses 4–8 are virtually identical in wording to Psalm 135:15–18.
5They have mouths, but they cannot speak.
They have eyes, but they cannot see.
6They have ears, but they cannot hear.
They have noses, but they cannot smell.
7They have hands, but they cannot feel.
They have feet, but they cannot walk.
They cannot ⌞even⌟ make a sound with their throats.
8Those who make idols end up like them.
So does everyone who trusts them.
9Israel, trust the Lord.
He is your helper and your shield.
10Descendants of Aaron, trust the Lord.
He is your helper and your shield.
11If you fear the Lord, trust the Lord.
He is your helper and your shield.
12The Lord, who is ⌞always⌟ thinking about us, will bless us.
He will bless the descendants of Israel.
He will bless the descendants of Aaron.
13He will bless those who fear the Lord,
from the least important to the most important.
14May the Lord continue to bless you and your children.
15You will be blessed by the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
16The highest heaven belongs to the Lord,
but he has given the earth to the descendants of Adam.
17Those who are dead do not praise the Lord,
nor do those who go into the silence ⌞of the grave⌟.
18But we will thank the Lord now and forever.
Hallelujah!
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Psalms 115: GW
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
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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