Psalm 115

Psalm 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16

#285 Weekday Years I & II Context (Monday of the 5th Week of Easter)

R. (1ab) Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name give glory
because of your mercy, because of your truth.
Why should the pagans say,
"Where is their God?"
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.

May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Heaven is the heaven of the LORD,
but the earth he has given to the children of men.
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16

In this hymn of praise, we are again reminded of the difference between God and idols as the song contrasts idolatry (“Their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of men”) with the Lord (“Our God is in heaven; whatever he wills, he does”).

CCC: Ps 115:3 268, 303; Ps 115:4-5 2112; Ps 115:8 2112; Ps 115:15 216, 287; Ps 115:16 326
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Psalm 115:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

#380 Weekday Year I Context (Thursday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time)

R. (9) I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name give glory
because of your kindness, because of your truth.
Why should the pagans say,
"Where is their God?"
R. I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.
R. I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.

They have mouths but speak not;
they have eyes but see not;
They have ears but hear not;
they have noses but smell not.
R. I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Their makers shall be like them,
everyone who trusts in them.
The house of Israel trusts in the LORD;
he is their help and their shield.
R. I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 115:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

Psalm 115 is a hymn of praise to our God who is above all things, and creator of all that exists. The strophes exhort the people to be faithful to God, unlike the pagans. False idols are lifeless and dead. Those who create and worship them will be dead as well. The faithful have life because of their trust in the Lord.

CCC: Ps 115:3 268, 303; Ps 115:4-5 2112; Ps 115:8 2112
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Psalm 115:3-4, 5-6, 7ab-8, 9-10

#384 Weekday Year II Context (Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time)

R. (9a) The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.
R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

They have mouths but speak not;
they have eyes but see not;
They have ears but hear not;
they have noses but smell not.
R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

They have hands but feel not;
they have feet but walk not.
Their makers shall be like them,
everyone that trusts in them.
R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 115:3-4, 5-6, 7ab-8, 9-10

Psalm 115 is a hymn of praise to our God who is above all things and creator of all. While he is not seen, all creation is evidence of his power and salvation. The singer attacks those who worship false gods and idols, promoting the first of the Ten Commandments: "You shall not have other gods beside me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before them or serve them." (Exodus 20:4-5)

CCC: Ps 115:3 268, 303; Ps 115:4-5 2112; Ps 115:8 2112
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Fin
Note: #1013 is listed in the index, however, the Text from Psalm 116 is printed in Volume IV.  See Psalm 116