Psalms 115:9-15

Context

115:9 O Israel, trust in the Lord!

He is their deliverer¹ and protector.²

115:10 O family³ of Aaron, trust in the Lord!

He is their deliverer⁴ and protector.⁵

115:11 You loyal followers of the Lord,⁶ trust in the Lord!

He is their deliverer⁷ and protector.⁸

115:12 The Lord takes notice of us,⁹ he will bless¹⁰ –

he will bless the family¹¹ of Israel,

he will bless the family of Aaron.

115:13 He will bless his loyal followers,¹²

both young and old.¹³

115:14 May he increase your numbers,

yours and your children’s!¹⁴

115:15 May you be blessed by the Lord,

the creator¹⁵ of heaven and earth!

[115:9] ¹tn Or “[source of] help.”

[115:9] ²tn Heb “and their shield.”

[115:10] ³tn Heb “house.”

[115:10] ⁴tn Or “[source of] help.”

[115:10] ⁵tn Heb “and their shield.”

[115:11] ⁵tn Heb “[you] fearers of the Lord.” See Ps 15:4.

[115:11] ⁶tn Or “[source of] help.”

[115:11] ⁷tn Heb “and their shield.”

[115:12] ⁷tn Or “remembers us.”

[115:12] ⁸tn 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] ⁹tn Heb “house.”

[115:13] ⁹tn Heb “the fearers of the Lord.”

[115:13] ¹⁰tn 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] ¹¹tn Heb “may he add to you, to you and your sons.” The prefixed verbal form is jussive, indicating this is a prayer.

[115:15] ¹³tn Or “maker.”