Psalms 115:13-18

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!


tn Heb “the fearers of the Lord.”

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”).

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

tn Or “maker.”

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

tn Heb “to the sons of man.”

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