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Psalms 115

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[1]God is called upon to assert his own honour against the reproaches of the heathen. [4]The vanity of idols. [9]An exhortation to trust in God, [12]who will not fail to bless and preserve his church.

1. Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.

2. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

3. But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

4. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

5. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

6. They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:

7. They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.

8. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

9. O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

10. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

11. Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

12. The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.

13. He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.

14. The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.

15. Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.

16. The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

17. The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

18. But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

Metrical version

Psalm 115

C.M. St. Thomas

Not unto us, LORD, not to us,
but do thou glory take
Unto thy name, ev'n for thy truth,
and for thy mercy's sake.

O wherefore should the heathen say,
Where is their God now gone?
But our God in the heavens is,
what pleased him he hath done.

Their idols silver are and gold,
work of men's hands they be.
Mouths have they, but they do not speak;
and eyes, but do not see;

Ears have they, but they do not hear;
noses, but savour not;
Hands, feet, but handle not, nor walk;
nor speak they through their throat.

Like them their makers are, and all
on them their trust that build.
O Isr'el, trust thou in the LORD,
he is their help and shield.

O Aaron's house, trust in the LORD,
their help and shield is he.
Ye that fear God, trust in the LORD,
their help and shield he'll be.

The LORD of us hath mindful been,
and he will bless us still:
He will the house of Isr'el bless,
bless Aaron's house he will.

Both small and great, that fear the LORD,
he will them surely bless.
The LORD will you, you and your seed,
aye more and more increase.

O blessed are ye of the LORD,
who made the earth and heav'n.
The heav'n, ev'n heav'ns, are GOD's, but he
earth to men's sons hath giv'n.

The dead, nor who to silence go,
GOD's praise do not record.
But henceforth we for ever will
bless GOD. Praise ye the LORD.
This psalm instructs us, (1.) To whom glory and praise ought to be ascribed: not to ourselves, but to God's mercy and truth, ver. 1; not to lifeless, senseless idols, but to God, whose throne is in the heavens, and who doeth whatever he pleaseth, ver. 2-8, 15-16. (2.) How we are to glorify God: 1. By trusting in him, crediting his promise and receiving his blessings, ver. 9-15. 2. By blessing him while we live, ver. 17-18.


Learn, my soul, to deny thyself; to take up thy cross and follow Christ; and to keep thyself from idols. But, make Jehovah, as reconciled in Christ, thy portion, thy trust, thy help, thy shield, thy blessedness, thy comfort, thy praise; and consider thine earthly enjoyments as the gracious gifts of thy God, and an earnest of thy far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.