Pagan Idols Contrasted with the Lord.
1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
But to Your name give glory
Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth and faithfulness.
2 Why should the nations say,
"Where, now, is their God?"
3 But our God is in heaven;
He does whatever He pleases.
4 The idols [of the nations] are silver and gold,
The work of man’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak;
They have eyes, but they cannot see;
6 They have ears, but they cannot hear;
They have noses, but they cannot smell;
7 They have hands, but they cannot feel;
They have feet, but they cannot walk;
Nor can they make a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will become like them,
Everyone who trusts in them. [Ps 135:15-18]
9 O Israel, trust and take refuge in the Lord! [Be confident in Him, cling to Him, rely on His word!]
He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
11 You who [reverently] fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless,
He will bless the house of Israel;
He will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will bless those who fear and worship the Lord [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder],
Both the small and the great. [Ps 103:11; Rev 11:18; 19:5]
14 May the Lord give you [great] increase,
You and your children.
15 May you be blessed of the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
16 The heavens are the heavens of the Lord,
But the earth He has given to the children of men.
17 The dead do not praise the Lord,
Nor do any who go down into silence;
18 But as for us, we will bless and affectionately and gratefully praise the Lord
From this time forth and forever.
Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)