Psalms 115
Old Testament · King James Version
Psalm 115 moves from a refusal of self-glory to a contrast between the living God and human-made idols, then repeats a call to trust and closes with blessing, stewardship of the earth, and praise among the living.
Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
O Israel, trust thou 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.
Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
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.
He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great.
The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.
The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.
But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.
Context
A communal hymn traditionally associated with the Hallel. It contrasts God's living sovereignty with crafted images while strengthening a worshiping community under pressure or ridicule.
Themes & application
- Glory to God
- Covenant love
- Idolatry
- Trust
- Help and shield
- Blessing
- Stewardship
- Praise
Reject self-glorification and misplaced trust, but do not turn anti-idolatry language into contempt for people, religions, cultures, art, or disability. Practice trust alongside responsible action, receive blessing without entitlement, care for the earth entrusted to humanity, and continue praise in the present life.
Key verses
Glory is redirected away from the community and toward God because of steadfast love and faithfulness.
Israel is called to trust the Lord as help and shield.
Human responsibility on earth is stewardship, not permission for exploitation.
The living community resolves to continue praising the Lord.
Common misreadings of Psalms 115
Misreading: Verses 4–8 authorize mocking or attacking people of other religions or destroying their property.
In context: The psalm critiques misplaced trust in crafted idols; it does not authorize hatred, harassment, vandalism, forced conversion, or violence.
Misreading: The sensory language about idols justifies jokes about blind, deaf, mute, or disabled people.
In context: The imagery contrasts lifeless objects with the living God and must not be weaponized against disabled persons.
Misreading: Verse 16 gives humanity unrestricted permission to exploit the earth.
In context: Receiving the earth entails accountable stewardship, not ecological domination without limits.
Misreading: Verse 17 settles every question about the afterlife by itself.
In context: It speaks from the psalm's earthly worship perspective and should be read within the wider biblical canon rather than isolated as a complete doctrine of the dead.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 44:9–20 — A prophetic critique of manufactured idols.
- Psalm 135:15–18 — A close parallel to the idol critique.
- Genesis 2:15 — Human responsibility for tending the earth.
Frequently asked questions about Psalms 115
Does Psalm 115 permit destroying religious images or insulting other believers?
Does Psalm 115:17 deny every form of conscious existence after death?
Sources & editorial notes
- Translation
- Commentary anchored in the public-domain Psalm 115 text used by the site (en).
- Authorship
- The psalm heading does not name an individual author; the commentary does not assign one beyond the text.
- Editorial process
- Synthesis checked against four literary movements and safeguards around religious hostility, disability, coercion, blessing claims, environmental exploitation, death, and afterlife proof-texting.
References
- Psalm 115 — Primary text and literary structure.
- Isaiah 44; Psalm 135 — Canonical parallels for the critique of idols.
Author: The Lord Will Editorial Team · Reviewed by: Ugo Candido · Updated: 2026-08-22