Psalms 115:4-14

Context

115:4 Their¹ idols are made of silver and gold –

they are man-made.²

115:5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,

eyes, but cannot see,

115:6 ears, but cannot hear,

noses, but cannot smell,

115:7 hands, but cannot touch,

feet, but cannot walk.

They cannot even clear their throats.³

115:8 Those who make them will end up⁴ like them,

as will everyone who trusts in them.

115:9 O Israel, trust in the Lord!

He is their deliverer⁵ and protector.⁶

115:10 O family⁷ of Aaron, trust in the Lord!

He is their deliverer⁸ and protector.⁹

115:11 You loyal followers of the Lord,¹⁰ trust in the Lord!

He is their deliverer¹¹ and protector.¹²

115:12 The Lord takes notice of us,¹³ he will bless¹⁴ –

he will bless the family¹⁵ of Israel,

he will bless the family of Aaron.

115:13 He will bless his loyal followers,¹⁶

both young and old.¹⁷

115:14 May he increase your numbers,

yours and your children’s!¹⁸

[115:4] ¹tn The referent of the pronominal suffix is “the nations” (v. 2).

[115:4] ²tn Heb “the work of the hands of man.”

[115:7] ³tn 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).

[115:8] ⁵tn Heb “will be.” Another option is to take the prefixed verbal form as a prayer, “may those who make them end up like them.”

[115:9] ⁷tn Or “[source of] help.”

[115:9] ⁸tn Heb “and their shield.”

[115:10] ⁹tn Heb “house.”

[115:10] ¹⁰tn Or “[source of] help.”

[115:10] ¹¹tn Heb “and their shield.”

[115:11] ¹¹tn Heb “[you] fearers of the Lord.” See Ps 15:4.

[115:11] ¹²tn Or “[source of] help.”

[115:11] ¹³tn Heb “and their shield.”

[115:12] ¹³tn Or “remembers us.”

[115:12] ¹⁴tn 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).

[115:12] ¹⁵tn Heb “house.”

[115:13] ¹⁵tn Heb “the fearers of the Lord.”

[115:13] ¹⁶tn 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] ¹⁷tn Heb “may he add to you, to you and your sons.” The prefixed verbal form is jussive, indicating this is a prayer.