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Psalm 115

The Impotence of Idols and the Greatness of God

[a]Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
    for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.(A)
Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”(B)

Our God is in the heavens;
    he does whatever he pleases.(C)
Their idols are silver and gold,
    the work of human hands.(D)
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
    they have eyes, but they do not see.
They have ears, but they do not hear;
    they have noses, but they do not smell.
They have hands, but they do not feel;
    they have feet, but they do not walk;
    they make no sound in their throats.
Those who make them are like them;
    so are all who trust in them.(E)

O Israel, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.(F)
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.(G)

12 The 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 he will bless those who fear the Lord,
    both small and great.

14 May the Lord give you increase,
    both you and your children.(H)
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.(I)

16 The heavens are the Lord’s heavens,
    but the earth he has given to human beings.(J)
17 The dead do not praise the Lord,
    nor do any who go down into silence.(K)
18 But we will bless the Lord
    from this time on and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!(L)

Footnotes

  1. 115.1 Psalms 114–115 are a single psalm in the earliest witnesses

Psalm 115

Glory to God Alone

Not to us, Yahweh, not to us,
but to Your name give glory
because of Your faithful love, because of Your truth.(A)
Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”(B)
Our God is in heaven
and does whatever He pleases.(C)

Their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.(D)
They have mouths but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
They have ears but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.(E)
They have hands but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk.(F)
They cannot make a sound with their throats.(G)
Those who make them are[a] just like them,
as are all who trust in them.(H)

Israel,[b] trust in the Lord!(I)
He is their help and shield.(J)
10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord!(K)
He is their help and shield.(L)
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!(M)
He is their help and shield.
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us.
He will bless the house of Israel;
He will bless the house of Aaron;(N)
13 He will bless those who fear the Lord
small and great alike.(O)

14 May the Lord add to your numbers,
both yours and your children’s.(P)
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.(Q)
16 The heavens are the Lord’s,[c]
but the earth He has given to the human race.(R)
17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord,
nor any of those descending into the silence of death.(S)
18 But we will praise the Lord,
both now and forever.(T)
Hallelujah!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 115:8 Or May those who make them become
  2. Psalm 115:9 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr read House of Israel
  3. Psalm 115:16 Lit Lord’s heavens