Text -- Psalms 115:12-18 (NET)

115:12 The Lord takes notice of us, he will bless– he will bless the family of Israel, he will bless the family of Aaron. 115:13 He will bless his loyal followers, both young and old. 115:14 May he increase your numbers, yours and your children’s! 115:15 May you be blessed by the Lord, the creator of heaven and earth! 115:16 The heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind. 115:17 The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any of those who descend into the silence of death. 115:18 But we will praise the Lord now and forevermore. Praise the Lord!

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Psa 115:12

¹ tn Or “remembers us.”

² 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).

³ tn Heb “house.”

NET Notes: Psa 115:13

¹ tn Heb “the fearers of the Lord.”

² 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”).

NET Notes: Psa 115:14

¹ tn Heb “may he add to you, to you and your sons.” The prefixed verbal form is jussive, indicating this is a prayer.

NET Notes: Psa 115:15

¹ tn Or “maker.”

NET Notes: Psa 115:16

¹ tn Heb “the heavens [are] heavens to the Lord.”

² tn Heb “to the sons of man.”

NET Notes: Psa 115:17

¹ tn Heb “silence,” a metonymy here for death (see Ps 94:17).