Psalms 115

1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, because of your mercy and your truth;

Yahweh, people should praise [only] you [MTY]; they must praise you, not us, because you faithfully love us and always do what you have promised to do.

2 lest at any time the nations should say, Where is their God?

It is not right that [RHQ] [other] people-groups should say about us, “[They claim that] their God [is very powerful], but [if that is true], why does he not [help them]?”

3 But our God has done in heaven and on earth, whatever he has pleased.

Our God is in heaven, and he does whatever he wants to!

4 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the works of men's hands.

[But] their idols are only [statues made of] silver and gold, things that humans have made.

5 They have a mouth, but they can’t speak; they have eyes, but they can’t see:

Their idols have mouths, but they cannot say [anything]; they have eyes, but they cannot see [anything].

6 they have ears, but they can’t hear; they have noses, but they can’t smell;

They have ears, but they cannot hear [anything]; they have noses, but they cannot smell [anything].

7 they have hands, but they can’t handle; they have feet, but they can’t walk: they can’t speak through their throat.

They have hands, but they cannot feel [anything]; they have feet, but they cannot walk, and they have throats but cannot [even] make any sounds!

8 Let those that make them become like to them, and all who trust in them.

The people who make those idols are [as powerless] as those idols, and those who trust in those idols [can accomplish nothing], just like their idols!

9 The house of Israel trusts in the Lord: he is their helper and defender.

You, [my fellow] Israeli people, trust in Yahweh! He is the one who helps you and [protects you like] [MET] a shield.

10 The house of Aaron trusts in the Lord: he is their helper and defender.

You priests [MTY], trust in Yahweh! He is the one who helps you and [protects you like] [MET] a shield.

11 They that fear the Lord trust in the Lord: he is their helper and defender.

[All] you who revere Yahweh, trust in him! He is the one who helps you and [protects you like] [MET] a shield.

12 The Lord has remembered us, and blessed us: he has blessed the house of Israel, he has blessed the house of Aaron.

Yahweh has not forgotten us; he will bless us Israeli people [MTY]! He will bless the priests,

13 He has blessed them that fear the Lord, both small and great.

and he will bless [all] those who revere him; he will bless important [people] and people [who are considered to be] unimportant, [everyone!]

14 The Lord add [blessings] to you and to your children.

I desire that Yahweh will give many children to you [my fellow-Israeli people], and to your descendants.

15 Blessed are you of the Lord, who made the heaven and the earth.

I desire that Yahweh, the one who made heaven and the earth, will bless [all of] you!

16 The heaven of heavens [belongs] to the Lord: but he has given the earth to the sons of men.

The [highest] heavens belong to Yahweh, but he gave [everything that is on] the earth to [us] people.

17 The dead shall not praise you, O Lord, nor any that go down to Hades.

Dead [people] are not [able to] praise Yahweh; when they descend into the place where dead people are, they are unable to speak and cannot praise him.

18 But we, the living, will bless the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.

But we [who are alive] will thank/praise him, now and forever. Praise Yahweh!