Psalms 115:13-18

Context

115:13 He will bless his loyal followers,¹

both young and old.²

115:14 May he increase your numbers,

yours and your children’s!³

115:15 May you be blessed by the Lord,

the creator⁴ of heaven and earth!

115:16 The heavens belong to the Lord,⁵

but the earth he has given to mankind.⁶

115:17 The dead do not praise the Lord,

nor do any of those who descend into the silence of death.⁷

115:18 But we will praise the Lord

now and forevermore.

Praise the Lord!

[115:13] ¹tn Heb “the fearers of the Lord.”

[115:13] ²tn 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”).

[115:14] ³tn Heb “may he add to you, to you and your sons.” The prefixed verbal form is jussive, indicating this is a prayer.

[115:15] ⁴tn Or “maker.”

[115:16] ⁵tn Heb “the heavens [are] heavens to the Lord.”

[115:16] ⁶tn Heb “to the sons of man.”

[115:17] ⁷tn Heb “silence,” a metonymy here for death (see Ps 94:17).