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Psalm 145

The Greatness and the Goodness of God

Praise. Of David.

1

I will extol you, my God and King,

and bless your name forever and ever.

2

Every day I will bless you,

and praise your name forever and ever.

3

Great is the L ord, and greatly to be praised;

his greatness is unsearchable.

 

4

One generation shall laud your works to another,

and shall declare your mighty acts.

5

On the glorious splendor of your majesty,

and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

6

The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,

and I will declare your greatness.

7

They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,

and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

 

8

The L ord is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9

The L ord is good to all,

and his compassion is over all that he has made.

 

10

All your works shall give thanks to you, O L ord,

and all your faithful shall bless you.

11

They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,

and tell of your power,

12

to make known to all people your mighty deeds,

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

 

The L ord is faithful in all his words,

and gracious in all his deeds.

14

The L ord upholds all who are falling,

and raises up all who are bowed down.

15

The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food in due season.

16

You open your hand,

satisfying the desire of every living thing.

17

The L ord is just in all his ways,

and kind in all his doings.

18

The L ord is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

19

He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;

he also hears their cry, and saves them.

20

The L ord watches over all who love him,

but all the wicked he will destroy.

 

21

My mouth will speak the praise of the L ord,

and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.


9. Jehovah is good to all, etc. The truth here stated is of wider application than the former, for the declaration of David is to the effect, that not only does God, with fatherly indulgence and clemency, forgive sin, but is good to all without discrimination, as he makes his sun to rise upon the good and upon the wicked. (Matthew 5:45.) Forgiveness of sin is a treasure from which the wicked are excluded, but their sin and depravity does not prevent God from showering down his goodness upon them, which they appropriate without being at all sensible of it. Meanwhile believers, and they only, know what it is to enjoy a reconciled God, as elsewhere it is said —

“Come ye to him, and be ye enlightened, and your faces shall not be ashamed; taste and see that the Lord is good.”
(Psalm 34:5, 8.)

When it is added that the mercy of God extends to all his works, this ought not to be considered as contrary to reason, or obscure. Our sins having involved the whole world in the curse of God, there is everywhere an opportunity for the exercise of God’s mercy, even in helping the brute creation.


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