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Psalm 115
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Psalm 115
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Psalm 115[a]
The Greatness of the True God
I
1 Not to us, Lord, not to us
but to your name give glory
because of your mercy and faithfulness.(A)
2 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”[b](B)
3 Our God is in heaven
and does whatever he wills.(C)
II
4 Their idols are silver and gold,(D)
the work of human hands.(E)
5 They have mouths but do not speak,
eyes but do not see.
6 They have ears but do not hear,
noses but do not smell.
7 They have hands but do not feel,
feet but do not walk;
they produce no sound from their throats.
8 Their makers will be like them,
and anyone who trusts in them.
III
9 [c]The house of Israel trusts in the Lord,(F)
who is their help and shield.(G)
10 The house of Aaron trusts in the Lord,
who is their help and shield.
11 Those who fear the Lord trust in the Lord,
who is their help and shield.
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us,
will bless the house of Israel,
will bless the house of Aaron,
13 Will bless those who fear the Lord,
small and great alike.
14 May the Lord increase your number,
yours and your descendants.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.
16 [d]The heavens belong to the Lord,
but he has given the earth to the children of Adam.(H)
17 [e]The dead do not praise the Lord,
not all those go down into silence.(I)
18 It is we who bless the Lord,
both now and forever.
Hallelujah!
Footnotes
- Psalm 115 A response to the enemy taunt, “Where is your God?” This hymn to the glory of Israel’s God (Ps 115:1–3) ridicules the lifeless idols of the nations (Ps 115:4–8), expresses in a litany the trust of the various classes of the people in God (Ps 115:9–11), invokes God’s blessing on them as they invoke the divine name (Ps 115:12–15), and concludes as it began with praise of God. Ps 135:15–18 similarly mocks the Gentile gods and has a similar litany and hymn (Ps 135:19–21).
- 115:2 Where is their God?: implies that God cannot help them.
- 115:9–11 The house of Israel…the house of Aaron…those who fear the Lord: the laity of Israelite birth, the priests, and the converts to Judaism, cf. Ps 118:2–4; 135:19–21. In the New Testament likewise “those who fear the Lord” means converts to Judaism (cf. Acts 10:2, 22, 35; 13:16, 26).
- 115:16 The heavens: the Septuagint reads here “the heaven of heavens” or “the highest heavens,” i.e., above the firmament. See note on Ps 148:4.
- 115:17 See note on Ps 6:5.
Psalm 115
New International Version
Psalm 115
New International Version
Psalm 115(A)
1 Not to us, Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,(B)
because of your love and faithfulness.(C)
2 Why do the nations say,
“Where is their God?”(D)
3 Our God is in heaven;(E)
he does whatever pleases him.(F)
4 But their idols are silver and gold,(G)
made by human hands.(H)
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,(I)
eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.
9 All you Israelites, trust(J) in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
10 House of Aaron,(K) trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
11 You who fear him,(L) trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
12 The Lord remembers(M) us and will bless us:(N)
He will bless his people Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear(O) the Lord—
small and great alike.
14 May the Lord cause you to flourish,(P)
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven(Q) and earth.
Footnotes
- Psalm 115:18 Hebrew Hallelu Yah
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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