Psalms 115
What Happens in This Chapter
This psalm asks God to be honored, not the people themselves. It says other nations trust in idols made of silver and gold, which cannot speak, see, hear, or move. The psalm calls Israel, the priests, and everyone who honors God to trust in God instead, because he helps them and blesses them. It ends with a promise to praise God always.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.
1LORD, do not give the honor to us. Do not give it to us at all. Give the honor to your name. You love us and you always keep your word.
2Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
2Why should other nations ask, "Where is their God now?"
3But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
3But our God is in heaven. He does whatever he wants to do.
4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
4Their idols are made of silver and gold. People made them with their own hands.
5They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
5The idols have mouths, but they cannot talk. They have eyes, but they cannot see.
6They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
6They have ears, but they cannot hear. They have noses, but they cannot smell.
7They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
7They have hands, but they cannot touch. They have feet, but they cannot walk. They cannot even make a sound in their throats.
8They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
8The people who make idols become just like them. So does everyone who trusts in them.
9O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
9Israel, trust in the LORD! He helps them and keeps them safe.
"Shield" means a big flat piece of metal or wood that soldiers held up to stay safe in a fight. Here it means God keeps his people safe.
10O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
10Family of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He helps them and keeps them safe. Aaron's family were the priests, the men who served God at his house.
11Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
11All of you who honor the LORD, trust in him! He helps them and keeps them safe.
12The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
12The LORD has not forgotten us. He will be good to us. He will be good to Israel. He will be good to Aaron's family.
13He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.
13He will be good to all who honor him. He will be good to the small and to the great.
14The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
14May the LORD give you more and more. May he give to you and to your children.
15Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.
15May the LORD be good to you. He is the one who made the heavens and the earth.
16The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
16The highest heavens belong to the LORD. But he gave the earth to people.
17The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.
17Dead people do not praise the LORD. No one who goes down into silence praises him.
18But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.
18But we will praise the LORD now and always. Praise the LORD!
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