Not to Us, LORD
Psalm 115 summary: what it means
Psalm 115 opens by refusing credit: not to us, LORD, but to your name give glory. It then answers a taunt from the nations, who ask where Israel's God is. The answer is that God is in the heavens and does whatever he pleases. By contrast, the nations' idols are silver and gold made by human hands. They have mouths, eyes, ears, noses, hands and feet, and none of them work.
Verse 8 draws the lesson: those who make idols become like them. The psalm then calls three groups to trust the LORD, Israel, the house of Aaron and all who fear him, with the same refrain each time: he is their help and their shield. It ends with blessing, and with the living promising to praise God forever.
Psalm 115: Not to Us, LORD
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-115
Psalm 115 commentary: explained verse by verse
Not to us, LORD, not to us,but to your name give glory,for your loving kindness, and for your truth’s sake.
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.
The psalm begins by turning glory away from the people and toward God. The reasons given are his loving kindness and his truth, not anything the people have done.
Also read Isaiah 48:11, Revelation 4:10-11, Psalm 74:22, Ezekiel 36:32
Why should the nations say,“Where is their God, now?”
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
Also read Deuteronomy 32:26-27, Psalm 42:10, Joel 2:17, 2 Kings 19:10-19
But our God is in the heavens.He does whatever he pleases.
But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
This is the answer to the nations' question in verse 2. Our God is in the heavens and does whatever he pleases, so he is not absent, he is free.
Also read Isaiah 46:10, Daniel 4:35, Psalm 123:1, Psalm 135:6
Their idols are silver and gold,the work of men’s hands.
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
The contrast begins. The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands, so they can be no greater than their makers.
Also read Isaiah 37:19, Isaiah 46:6-7, Psalm 135:15-18, Acts 19:26
They have mouths, but they don’t speak.They have eyes, but they don’t see.
They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
Also read Jeremiah 10:5
They have ears, but they don’t hear.They have noses, but they don’t smell.
They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
The list of useless body parts continues: ears that do not hear and noses that do not smell. The repetition makes the idols seem more lifeless with every line.
They have hands, but they don’t feel.They have feet, but they don’t walk,neither do they speak through their throat.
They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
Those who make them will be like them;yes, everyone who trusts in them.
They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
The psalm draws its conclusion about idols. Those who make them, and everyone who trusts in them, will become like them.
Also read Psalm 135:18, Jeremiah 10:8, Jonah 2:8, Habakkuk 2:18-19
Israel, trust in the LORD!He is their help and their shield.
O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
This is the first of three calls to trust. Israel is told to trust in the LORD, and the refrain follows: he is their help and their shield.
Also read Psalm 62:8, Exodus 19:5, Psalm 130:7, Psalm 146:5-6
House of Aaron, trust in the LORD!He is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
Also read Numbers 18:7, Psalm 118:3, Exodus 28:1, Numbers 16:5
You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!He is their help and their shield.
Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
The third call reaches beyond Israel and the house of Aaron to everyone who fears the LORD. They receive the same instruction and the same refrain about help and shield.
Also read Psalm 103:11, Revelation 19:5, Psalm 33:18, Psalm 118:4
The LORD remembers us. He will bless us.He will bless the house of Israel.He will bless the house of Aaron.
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.
The psalm turns from command to promise. The LORD remembers us and will bless the house of Israel and the house of Aaron.
Also read Genesis 2:17-18, Acts 3:26, Isaiah 44:21, Galatians 3:14
He will bless those who fear the LORD,both small and great.
He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.
The blessing extends to all who fear the LORD, both small and great. Nobody is too unimportant to be included.
Also read Luke 1:50, Psalm 128:1, Psalm 112:1, Malachi 3:16-17
May the LORD increase you more and more,you and your children.
The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
The blessing looks to the future. May the LORD increase you more and more, you and your children.
Also read Zechariah 8:20-23, Genesis 17:7, Jeremiah 30:19, Isaiah 19:20-21
Blessed are you by the LORD,who made heaven and earth.
Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.
The listeners are declared blessed by the LORD, who is named as the maker of heaven and earth. He is the opposite of idols made by human hands.
Also read Psalm 121:2, Genesis 14:19, Revelation 14:7, Genesis 32:26-29
The heavens are the LORD’s heavens,but he has given the earth to the children of men.
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
Also read Psalm 144:5, Genesis 9:1-3, John 14:2, Lamentations 3:66
The dead don’t praise the LORD,nor any who go down into silence,
The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.
The dead do not praise the LORD, nor anyone who goes down into silence. The verse makes praise the task of the living, which verse 18 then takes up.
Also read 1 Samuel 2:9, Isaiah 38:18-19, Psalm 30:9, Psalm 31:17
but we will bless the LORD,from this time forward and forever more.Praise the LORD!
But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.
Also read Psalm 145:21, Revelation 5:13, Psalm 113:2, Psalm 118:17-19
A prayer from Psalm 115
Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your loving kindness and for your truth. When people ask where my God is, let me answer that you are in the heavens. Keep me from trusting in things made by human hands, which have mouths but do not speak and eyes but do not see. I trust in you, for you are my help and my shield. You remember us, and you bless those who fear you, both small and great. You made heaven and earth. While I live, I will bless you, from this time forward and forever more. Amen.
Psalm 115 Bible study questions
- In verse 1, what reasons does the psalm give for giving glory to God's name rather than to us?
- In verses 9 to 11, which three groups are told to trust in the LORD, and what is said about him each time?
- Verse 8 says those who make idols will be like them: what do you think it means to become like what you trust?
- Verse 13 says God blesses those who fear him, both small and great: what does that phrase suggest to you?
- Psalm 135:15 to 18 describes idols in nearly the same words: what does each psalm do with the comparison?
Questions about Psalm 115
What is the meaning of Psalm 115?
It gives all glory to God rather than to his people, mocks idols that have mouths but cannot speak, and calls Israel and all who fear God to trust him as their help and shield.
Who wrote Psalm 115?
The psalm has no heading, and the text does not name an author.
What does Psalm 115:1 say in the KJV?
The King James Version reads: "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake."
What does Psalm 115:11 mean?
It calls everyone who fears the LORD to trust him, and says he is their help and their shield. The same line is said to Israel in verse 9 and to the house of Aaron in verse 10.
What does Psalm 115:15 mean?
It declares the listeners blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth. The phrase sets the maker of everything against idols made by human hands.
What does Psalm 115:17 mean?
It says the dead do not praise the LORD. Verse 18 answers that the living will bless him from this time forward and forever.
Psalm 115 KJV: the King James Version
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.1
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?2
But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.3
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.4
They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:5
They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:6
They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.7
They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.8
O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.9
O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.10
Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.11
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.12
He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.13
The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.14
Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.15
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.16
The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.17
But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.18
Psalm 115 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
Show the text
1 לֹ֤א לָ֥נוּ יְהוָ֗ה לֹ֫א לָ֥נוּ כִּֽי־לְ֭שִׁמְךָ תֵּ֣ן כָּב֑וֹד עַל־חַ֝סְדְּךָ֗ עַל־אֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃
2 לָ֭מָּה יֹאמְר֣וּ הַגּוֹיִ֑ם אַיֵּה־נָ֝֗א אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃
3 וֵֽאלֹהֵ֥ינוּ בַשָּׁמָ֑יִם כֹּ֭ל אֲשֶׁר־חָפֵ֣ץ עָשָֽׂה׃
4 עֲֽ֭צַבֵּיהֶם כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֑ב מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗ה יְדֵ֣י אָדָֽם׃
5 פֶּֽה־לָ֭הֶם וְלֹ֣א יְדַבֵּ֑רוּ עֵינַ֥יִם לָ֝הֶ֗ם וְלֹ֣א יִרְאֽוּ׃
6 אָזְנַ֣יִם לָ֭הֶם וְלֹ֣א יִשְׁמָ֑עוּ אַ֥ף לָ֝הֶ֗ם וְלֹ֣א יְרִיחֽוּן׃
7 יְדֵיהֶ֤ם ׀ וְלֹ֬א יְמִישׁ֗וּן רַ֭גְלֵיהֶם וְלֹ֣א יְהַלֵּ֑כוּ לֹֽא־יֶ֝הְגּ֗וּ בִּגְרוֹנָֽם׃
8 כְּ֭מוֹהֶם יִהְי֣וּ עֹשֵׂיהֶ֑ם כֹּ֭ל אֲשֶׁר־בֹּטֵ֣חַ בָּהֶֽם׃
9 יִ֭שְׂרָאֵל בְּטַ֣ח בַּיהוָ֑ה עֶזְרָ֖ם וּמָגִנָּ֣ם הֽוּא׃
10 בֵּ֣ית אַ֭הֲרֹן בִּטְח֣וּ בַיהוָ֑ה עֶזְרָ֖ם וּמָגִנָּ֣ם הֽוּא׃
11 יִרְאֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה בִּטְח֣וּ בַיהוָ֑ה עֶזְרָ֖ם וּמָגִנָּ֣ם הֽוּא׃
12 יְהוָה֮ זְכָרָ֪נוּ יְבָ֫רֵ֥ךְ יְ֭בָרֵךְ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְ֝בָרֵ֗ךְ אֶת־בֵּ֥ית אַהֲרֹֽן׃
13 יְ֭בָרֵךְ יִרְאֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה הַ֝קְּטַנִּ֗ים עִם־הַגְּדֹלִֽים׃
14 יֹסֵ֣ף יְהוָ֣ה עֲלֵיכֶ֑ם עֲ֝לֵיכֶ֗ם וְעַל־בְּנֵיכֶֽם׃
15 בְּרוּכִ֣ים אַ֭תֶּם לַיהוָ֑ה עֹ֝שֵׂ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ׃
16 הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם שָׁ֭מַיִם לַיהוָ֑ה וְ֝הָאָ֗רֶץ נָתַ֥ן לִבְנֵי־אָדָֽם׃
17 לֹ֣א הַ֭מֵּתִים יְהַֽלְלוּ־יָ֑הּ וְ֝לֹ֗א כָּל־יֹרְדֵ֥י דוּמָֽה׃
18 וַאֲנַ֤חְנוּ ׀ נְבָ֘רֵ֤ךְ יָ֗הּ מֵֽעַתָּ֥ה וְעַד־עוֹלָ֗ם הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃
Psalm 115 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 113, verses 9 to 26 there.
Show the text
9 Not to us, O Lord, not to us; but to thy name give glory.
10 For thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake: lest the gentiles should say: Where is their God?
11 But our God is in heaven: he hath done all things whatsoever he would.
12 The idols of the gentiles are silver and gold, the works of the hands of men.
13 They have mouths and speak not: they have eyes and see not.
14 They have ears and hear not: they have noses and smell not.
15 They have hands and feel not: they have feet and walk not: neither shall they cry out through their throat.
16 Let them that make them become like unto them: and all such as trust in them.
17 The house of Israel hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
18 The house of Aaron hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
19 They that fear the Lord hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
20 The Lord hath been mindful of us, and hath blessed us. He hath blessed the house of Israel: he hath blessed the house of Aaron.
21 He hath blessed all that fear the Lord, both little and great.
22 May the Lord add blessings upon you: upon you, and upon your children.
23 Blessed be you of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
24 The heaven of heaven is the Lord’s: but the earth he has given to the children of men.
25 The dead shall not praise thee, O Lord: nor any of them that go down to hell.
26 But we that live bless the Lord: from this time now and for ever.
Psalm 115 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 113, verses 9 to 26.
Show the text
9 Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam:
10 super misericordia tua et veritate tua; nequando dicant gentes: Ubi est Deus eorum?
11 Deus autem noster in cælo; omnia quæcumque voluit fecit.
12 Simulacra gentium argentum et aurum, opera manuum hominum.
13 Os habent, et non loquentur; oculos habent, et non videbunt.
14 Aures habent, et non audient; nares habent, et non odorabunt.
15 Manus habent, et non palpabunt; pedes habent, et non ambulabunt; non clamabunt in gutture suo.
16 Similes illis fiant qui faciunt ea, et omnes qui confidunt in eis.
17 Domus Israël speravit in Domino; adjutor eorum et protector eorum est.
18 Domus Aaron speravit in Domino; adjutor eorum et protector eorum est.
19 Qui timent Dominum speraverunt in Domino; adjutor eorum et protector eorum est.
20 Dominus memor fuit nostri, et benedixit nobis. Benedixit domui Israël; benedixit domui Aaron.
21 Benedixit omnibus qui timent Dominum, pusillis cum majoribus.
22 Adjiciat Dominus super vos, super vos et super filios vestros.
23 Benedicti vos a Domino, qui fecit cælum et terram.
24 Cælum cæli Domino; terram autem dedit filiis hominum.
25 Non mortui laudabunt te, Domine, neque omnes qui descendunt in infernum:
26 sed nos qui vivimus, benedicimus Domino, ex hoc nunc et usque in sæculum.
Printable Psalm 115: free, large print and PDF
Print Psalm 115 for free: the whole psalm or only the verses you tick. Choose regular, large or extra large print, and a plain page, a framed sheet to hang on the wall or a verse card, in the World English Bible or the King James Version. To keep a PDF, choose Save as PDF in the print window. Nothing to sign up for.
Psalm 115 at a glance
| Verses | 18 |
| Heading in the text | No heading |
| Attributed to | The psalm has no heading, and the text does not name its author. |
| Type | Praise and Trust |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 113 (Psalms 114 and 115 are one psalm there) |
Read Psalm 115 when you are facing
Psalm 115 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 115 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 115 belongs
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source