Psalm 115

New International Reader's Version

115 Lord, may glory be given to you, not to us.
You are loving and faithful.

²Why do the nations ask,
    “Where is their God?”
³Our God is in heaven.
    He does anything he wants to do.
⁴But the statues of their gods are made out of silver and gold.
    They are made by human hands.
⁵They have mouths but can’t speak.
    They have eyes but can’t see.
⁶They have ears but can’t hear.
    They have noses but can’t smell.
⁷They have hands but can’t feel.
    They have feet but can’t walk.
    They have throats but can’t say anything.
⁸Those who make statues of gods will be like them.
    So will all those who trust in them.

⁹All you Israelites, trust in the Lord.
    He helps you like a shield that keeps you safe.
¹⁰Priests of Aaron, trust in the Lord.
    He helps you like a shield that keeps you safe.
¹¹You who have respect for the Lord, trust in him.
    He helps you like a shield that keeps you safe.

¹²The Lord remembers us and will bless us.
    He will bless Israel, his people.
    He will bless the priests of Aaron.
¹³The Lord will bless those who have respect for him.
    He will bless important and unimportant people alike.

¹⁴May the Lord give you many children.
May he give them to you and to your children after you.
¹⁵May the Lord bless you.
He is the Maker of heaven and earth.

¹⁶The highest heavens belong to the Lord.
    But he has given the earth to human beings.
¹⁷Dead people don’t praise the Lord.
    Those who lie quietly in the grave don’t praise him.
¹⁸But we who are alive praise the Lord,
    both now and forever.