Psalm 117:2
New International Version
For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.

New Living Translation
For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD!

English Standard Version
For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!

Berean Standard Bible
For great is His loving devotion toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Hallelujah!

King James Bible
For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

New King James Version
For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!

New American Standard Bible
For His mercy toward us is great, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD!

NASB 1995
For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD!

NASB 1977
For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD!

Legacy Standard Bible
For His lovingkindness prevails over us, And the truth of Yahweh is everlasting. Praise Yah!

Amplified Bible
For His lovingkindness prevails over us [and we triumph and overcome through Him], And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)

Christian Standard Bible
For his faithful love to us is great; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Hallelujah!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For His faithful love to us is great; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Hallelujah!

American Standard Version
For his lovingkindness is great toward us; And the truth of Jehovah endureth for ever. Praise ye Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
God's love for us is wonderful; his faithfulness never ends. Shout praises to the LORD!

English Revised Version
For his mercy is great toward us; and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
His mercy toward us is powerful. The LORD's faithfulness endures forever. Hallelujah!

Good News Translation
His love for us is strong, and his faithfulness is eternal. Praise the LORD!

International Standard Version
For great is his gracious love toward us, and the LORD's faithfulness is eternal. Hallelujah!

Majority Standard Bible
For great is His loving devotion toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Hallelujah!

NET Bible
For his loyal love towers over us, and the LORD's faithfulness endures. Praise the LORD!

New Heart English Bible
For his loving kindness is great toward us. The LORD's faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
For his merciful kindness is great towards us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

World English Bible
For his loving kindness is great toward us. Yahweh’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise Yah!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For His kindness has been mighty to us, "" And the truth of YHWH [is] for all time. Praise YAH!

Young's Literal Translation
For mighty to us hath been His kindness, And the truth of Jehovah is to the age. Praise ye Jah!

Smith's Literal Translation
For his mercy was strengthened upon us, and the truth of Jehovah is forever. Praise ye Jah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For his mercy has been confirmed over us. And the truth of the Lord remains for all eternity.

New American Bible
His mercy for us is strong; the faithfulness of the LORD is forever. Hallelujah!

New Revised Standard Version
For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For his merciful kindness is great toward us; and the truth of the LORD endures for ever. Praise the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because his grace has prevailed over us! Truly, LORD JEHOVAH is to eternity!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For His mercy is great toward us; And the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Hallelujah.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For his mercy has been abundant toward us: and the truth of the Lord endures for ever.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Extol Him, All You Peoples
1Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol Him, all you peoples! 2For great is His loving devotion toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Hallelujah!

Cross References
Psalm 100:5
For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations.

Psalm 103:11
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.

Psalm 136:1
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His loving devotion endures forever.

Psalm 118:1
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.

Psalm 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.

Psalm 89:1-2
A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the loving devotion of the LORD forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations. / For I have said, “Loving devotion is built up forever; in the heavens You establish Your faithfulness.”

Psalm 115:1
Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness.

Psalm 108:4
For Your loving devotion extends beyond the heavens, and Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Psalm 138:2
I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else.

Psalm 145:8
The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, My loving devotion will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be broken,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. / They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

Exodus 34:6
Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,

Numbers 14:18
‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’

Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.


Treasury of Scripture

For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endures for ever. Praise you the LORD.

Psalm 85:10
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Psalm 89:1
Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100:4,5
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name…

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Age Endures Endureth Everlasting Faith Faithfulness Forever Great Hallelujah Jah Kindness Loving Loving-Kindness Merciful Mercy Praise Psalm Steadfast Towards Truth Unchanging Yah
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Age Endures Endureth Everlasting Faith Faithfulness Forever Great Hallelujah Jah Kindness Loving Loving-Kindness Merciful Mercy Praise Psalm Steadfast Towards Truth Unchanging Yah
Psalm 117
1. An exhortation to praise God for his mercy and truth














For great is His loving devotion
The Hebrew word for "loving devotion" is "חֶסֶד" (chesed), which encompasses a profound sense of steadfast love, mercy, and kindness. This term is often used to describe God's covenantal love for His people, a love that is unwavering and unconditional. In the historical context of Israel, "chesed" was a reminder of God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and His continued faithfulness despite the people's shortcomings. The greatness of this loving devotion is not just in its magnitude but in its enduring nature, reflecting a divine commitment that surpasses human understanding.

toward us
The phrase "toward us" emphasizes the personal and communal aspect of God's love. It is not a distant or abstract concept but a direct and intimate relationship with His people. Historically, this would have been a source of immense comfort and assurance to the Israelites, who often faced external threats and internal strife. The inclusivity of "us" also foreshadows the New Testament revelation that God's love extends beyond Israel to all nations, a theme that resonates throughout the Psalms and finds fulfillment in the Great Commission.

and the faithfulness of the LORD
The Hebrew word for "faithfulness" is "אֱמוּנָה" (emunah), which conveys a sense of reliability, trustworthiness, and steadfastness. This attribute of God assures believers that He is consistent and true to His word. In the ancient Near Eastern context, where gods were often seen as capricious and unpredictable, the faithfulness of Yahweh set Him apart as a deity who could be trusted completely. Scripturally, this faithfulness is demonstrated through God's actions in history, His fulfillment of promises, and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people.

endures forever
The phrase "endures forever" highlights the eternal nature of God's attributes. Unlike human love and faithfulness, which can waver and fade, God's loving devotion and faithfulness are perpetual and unchanging. This eternal aspect is a cornerstone of biblical theology, providing believers with hope and assurance that God's promises are not limited by time or circumstance. The enduring nature of God's faithfulness is a theme echoed throughout the Bible, from the Old Testament covenants to the New Testament's promise of eternal life through Christ.

Hallelujah!
The term "Hallelujah" is a transliteration of the Hebrew "הַלְלוּיָהּ" (halleluyah), meaning "Praise the LORD." It is both a call to worship and an expression of exuberant praise. In the context of Psalm 117, it serves as a fitting conclusion, inviting all who have experienced God's loving devotion and faithfulness to respond with joyful adoration. Historically, "Hallelujah" has been a central part of Jewish and Christian liturgies, symbolizing the communal and individual response to God's mighty acts and enduring love. This exclamation encapsulates the psalmist's awe and gratitude, encouraging believers to live lives marked by praise and thanksgiving.

Verse 2. - For his merciful kindness (or, his mercy) is great towards us; literally, has been great over us. The appeal is to history, and the mercy intended is that shown in God's continual protection of Israel. And the truth of the Lord endureth forever. God's "truth" is here, as so often, his faithfulness to his promises, the promises being especially those made to Abraham and David. His mercy and truth" to Israel were an indication of what the Gentiles might expect of him in his dealings with them (comp. Romans 15:8, 9).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

great is
גָ֘בַ֤ר (ḡā·ḇar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1396: To be strong, to prevail, act insolently

His loving devotion
חַסְדּ֗וֹ (ḥas·dōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

to us,
עָלֵ֨ינוּ ׀ (‘ā·lê·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and the faithfulness
וֶֽאֱמֶת־ (we·’ĕ·meṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 571: Stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness

of the LORD
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

endures forever.
לְעוֹלָ֗ם (lə·‘ō·w·lām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always

Hallelujah!
הַֽלְלוּ־ (hal·lū-)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 1984: To shine


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OT Poetry: Psalm 117:2 For his loving kindness is great toward (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 117:1
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