Bible History
Bible History

Psalm 115 - New English Translation (NET)

You are here: Home New English Translation (NET) Psalm 115

Psalm 115[a]

115 Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to your name bring honor,[b]
for the sake of your loyal love and faithfulness.[c]
2 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in heaven.
He does whatever he pleases.[d]
4 Their[e] idols are made of silver and gold—
they are man-made.[f]
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.[g]
8 Those who make them will end up[h] like them,
as will everyone who trusts in them.
9 O Israel, trust in the Lord.
He is their deliverer[i] and protector.[j]
10 O family[k] of Aaron, trust in the Lord.
He is their deliverer[l] and protector.[m]
11 You loyal followers of the Lord,[n] trust in the Lord.
He is their deliverer[o] and protector.[p]
12 The Lord takes notice of us;[q] he will bless[r]—
he will bless the family[s] of Israel,
he will bless the family of Aaron.
13 He will bless his loyal followers,[t]
both young and old.[u]
14 May he increase your numbers,
yours and your children’s.[v]
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Creator[w] of heaven and earth.
16 The heavens belong to the Lord,[x]
but the earth he has given to mankind.[y]
17 The dead do not praise the Lord,
nor do any of those who descend into the silence of death.[z]
18 But we will praise the Lord
now and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 115:1 sn Psalm 115. The psalmist affirms that Israel’s God is superior to pagan idols and urges Israel to place their confidence in him.
  2. Psalm 115:1 tn Or “give glory.”
  3. Psalm 115:1 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.
  4. Psalm 115:3 sn He does whatever he pleases. Such sovereignty is characteristic of kings (see Eccl 8:3).
  5. Psalm 115:4 tn The referent of the pronominal suffix is “the nations” (v. 2).
  6. Psalm 115:4 tn Heb “the work of the hands of man.”
  7. Psalm 115:7 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. Psalm 115:8 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.
  9. Psalm 115:9 tn Or “[source of] help.”
  10. Psalm 115:9 tn Heb “and their shield.”
  11. Psalm 115:10 tn Heb “house.”
  12. Psalm 115:10 tn Or “[source of] help.”
  13. Psalm 115:10 tn Heb “and their shield.”
  14. Psalm 115:11 tn Heb “[you] fearers of the Lord.” See Ps 15:4.
  15. Psalm 115:11 tn Or “[source of] help.”
  16. Psalm 115:11 tn Heb “and their shield.”
  17. Psalm 115:12 tn Or “remembers us.”
  18. Psalm 115:12 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).
  19. Psalm 115:12 tn Heb “house.”
  20. Psalm 115:13 tn Heb “the fearers of the Lord.”
  21. Psalm 115:13 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”).
  22. Psalm 115:14 tn Heb “may he add to you, to you and your sons.” The prefixed verbal form is jussive, indicating this is a prayer.
  23. Psalm 115:15 tn Or “maker.”
  24. Psalm 115:16 tn Heb “the heavens [are] heavens to the Lord.”
  25. Psalm 115:16 tn Heb “to the sons of man.”
  26. Psalm 115:17 tn Heb “silence,” a metonymy here for death (see Ps 94:17).

You Might Also Like:

Psalm 115 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

115 Not to us, O Jehovah, not to us, But to Thy name give honour, For Thy kindness, for Thy truth. 2 Why do the nations say, `Where, pray, [is] their God. 3 And our God [is] in the heavens, All that He hath pleased He hath done. 4 Their idols [are] silver and gold, work of man's hands, 5 A mouth the...
Read More

Psalm 115 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

115 Lord, not to us, Lord, not to us; but give thou glory to thy name. Of thy mercy, and of thy truth; (Lord, not to us, Lord, not to us; but give thou glory to thy name. For thy love, and for the sake of thy faithfulness;) 2 lest any time heathen men say, Where is the God of them? (lest any time th...
Read More

Psalm 115 - World English Bible (WEB)

115 Not to us, Yahweh, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your loving kindness, and for your truth’s sake.2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God, now?”3 But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases.4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.5 They ha...
Read More

Psalm 115 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 1151 Not for us, O Eternal One; this glory is not for us—but for Your name because of Your loyal love and truth.2 Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God now?” 3 Our God is in heaven doing whatever He chooses.4 Those nations worship idols of silver and gold, crafted by human hands:5 Th...
Read More

Psalm 115 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Bless the Maker of Heaven and EarthPsalm 1151 Not to us, Adonai, not to us,but to Your Name be the glory—because of Your love and Your faithfulness.2 Why should the nations say:“Where is their God now?”3 Our God is in the heavens—He does whatever pleases Him!4 Their idols are silver and gold,the wor...
Read More

Psalm 115 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Impotence of Idols and the Greatness of God115 Not to us, O Lord, not to us,but to thy name give glory, for the sake of thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness!2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases.4 Their idols are silver an...
Read More

Psalm 115 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Impotence of Idols and the Greatness of God115 Not to us, O Lord, not to us,but to thy name give glory, for the sake of thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness!2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases.4 Their idols are silver an...
Read More

Psalm 115 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 115The Impotence of Idols and the Greatness of God1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases.4 Their idols ar...
Read More

Psalm 115 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 115The Impotence of Idols and the Greatness of God1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.2 Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ 3 Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases.4 Their idols ar...
Read More

Psalm 115 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 115The Impotence of Idols and the Greatness of God1 [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)2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”(B)3 Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases.(C)4 The...
Read More

Psalm 115 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 1151 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.2 Why let the nations say, “Where is their God?”3 Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes.4 Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands.5 They...
Read More

Psalm 115 - New Life Version (NLV)

One True God115 Let honor be given to Your name and not to us, O Lord, not to us. Because You are loving and kind and faithful. 2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God now?” 3 But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever He wants to do. 4 Their gods are silver and gold, the work of h...
Read More

Psalm 115 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Futility of Idols and the Trustworthiness of God115 Not (A)unto us, O Lord, not unto us,But to Your name give glory,Because of Your mercy,Because of Your truth.2 Why should the [a]Gentiles say,(B)“So where is their God?” 3 (C)But our God is in heaven;He does whatever He pleases.4 (D)Their idols ...
Read More

Psalm 115 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 1151 Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. 2 Why do the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.5 They have mouths, but cannot sp...
Read More

Psalm 115 - New International Version (NIV)

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 ha...
Read More

Psalm 115 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 1151 Lord, may glory be given to you, not to us. You are loving and faithful. 2 Why do the nations ask, “Where is their God?”3 Our God is in heaven. He does anything he wants to do.4 But the statues of their gods are made out of silver and gold. They are made by human hands.5 They have mouths ...
Read More

Psalm 115 - New Century Version (NCV)

The One True God115 It does not belong to us, Lord.The glory belongs to you because of your love and loyalty. 2 Why do the nations ask, “Where is their God?”3 Our God is in heaven. He does what he pleases.4 Their idols are made of silver and gold, the work of human hands.5 They have mouths, but they...
Read More

61 Bible Translations

Popular Articles

Explore the Bible Like Never Before!

Bible History Online

Bible Study Tools

Top Tags