Psalms145
New American Standard
1 I will exalt You, my God, the King, And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation will praise Your works to another, And will declare Your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
6 People will speak of the power of Your awesome acts, And I will tell of Your greatness.
7 They will burst forth in speaking of Your abundant goodness, And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate; Slow to anger and great in mercy.
9 The Lord is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works.
10 All Your works will give thanks to You, Lord, And Your godly ones will bless You.
11 They will speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your might,
12 To make known to the sons of mankind Your mighty acts, And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in His words, And holy in all His works.
14 The Lord supports all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to You, And You give them their food in due time.
16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways, And kind in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on Him, To all who call on Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry for help and save them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love Him, But He will destroy all the wicked.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.
Study
Psalms 145Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 145. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David extols the power, goodness, and mercy of the Lord. (1–9). The glory of God's kingdom, and his care of those that love him. (10–21).
vv1-9
Those who, under troubles and temptations, abound in fervent prayer, shall in due season abound in grateful praise, which is the true language of holy joy. Especially we should speak of God's wondrous work of redemption, while we declare his greatness. For no deliverance of the Israelites, nor the punishment of sinners, so clearly proclaims the justice of God, as the cross of Christ exhibits it to the enlightened mind. It may be truly said of our Lord Jesus Christ, that his words are words of goodness and grace; his works are works of goodness and grace. He is full of compassion; hence he came into the world to save sinners. When on earth, he showed his compassion both to the bodies and souls of men, by healing the one, and making wise the other. He is of great mercy, a merciful High Priest, through whom God is merciful to sinners.
vv10-21
All God's works show forth his praises. He satisfies the desire of every living thing, except the unreasonable children of men, who are satisfied with nothing. He does good to all the children of men; his own people in a special manner. Many children of God, who have been ready to fall into sin, to fall into despair, have tasted his goodness in preventing their falls, or recovering them speedily by his graces and comforts. And with respect to all that are heavy laden under the burden of sin, if they come to Christ by faith, he will ease them, he will raise them. He is very ready to hear and answer the prayers of his people. He is present every where; but in a special way he is nigh to them, as he is not to others. He is in their hearts, and dwells there by faith, and they dwell in him. He is nigh to those that call upon him, to help them in all times of need. He will be nigh to them, that they may have what they ask, and find what they seek, if they call upon him in truth and sincerity. And having taught men to love his name and holy ways, he will save them from the destruction of the wicked. May we then love his name, and walk in his ways, while we desire that all flesh should bless his holy name for ever and ever.
Key Words
תְּהִלָּה: laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
רוּם: to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
מֶלֶךְ: a king
בָרַךְ: to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason)
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
עוֹלָם: properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always
עַד: properly, a (peremptory) terminus, i.e. (by implication) duration, in the sense of advance or perpetuity (substantially as a noun, either with or without a preposition)
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Psalms 145Direct verbal echo of the classic self-revelation of God's grace, mercy, and patience.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Paul's proof of God's universal goodness to all nations, giving them food and gladness.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identical imagery of all creatures looking to God to receive their food in season.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identical liturgical formulation: 'Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.'
Supported by JFB
Identical phrasing regarding the Lord being merciful, gracious, and slow to anger.
Supported by JFB
Parallel declaration of God's everlasting kingdom and dominion enduring through all generations.
Supported by JFB
Parallel showing God providing sustenance to the beasts and to the young ravens.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Matches the specific language of God opening His hand to satisfy His creatures' desires.
Supported by JFB
Uses the same Hebrew term for extolling God as King and Deliverer.
Supported by JFB
Thematic match showing that though a righteous man falls, the Lord upholds him.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel praise of God raising up those who are bowed down.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Clarifies the meaning of calling upon or worshipping God 'in truth' (sincerity).
Supported by Matthew Poole
Associates the memory of His wonderful works with being gracious and full of compassion.
Supported by JFB
God's unique proximity to His covenant people whenever they call upon Him.
Supported by Matthew Henry