Psalm 116:5 - Printer Friendly

What does Psalm 116:5 mean?

ESV: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.

NIV: The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.

NASB: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate.

CSB: The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is compassionate.

NLT: How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours!

KJV: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

NKJV: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful.

Verse Commentary:

Please see our chapter commentary on Psalm 116; verse-level content coming soon!

Verse Context:

Psalm 116:5–11 emphasizes the Lord's mercy and love in rescuing the psalmist from danger. The experience caused the writer to complain about his suffering, and to bitterly compare the perfect faithfulness of God with the dishonesty of humanity. Rest and trust come from recognizing God's goodness.

Chapter Summary:

The psalmist thanks God for rescue from a fatal threat. During some intense crisis, the writer cried out to God and was spared. For this reason, the psalmist promises to praise God forever. The danger made this writer question the reasons for his situation, but did not erase his faith. He recognizes that the Lord values all of His people, and vows to publicly honor the One who has saved him.

Chapter Context:

Major Jewish celebrations incorporated a series of songs (Psalms 113—118), often called "the Hallel." These frequently use the phrase halelu-yāh, better known in English as "hallelujah." This literally means "Praise the Lord!" Psalm 116 emphasizes the personal salvation experienced by the psalmist. His words explore the way God's people often struggle to understand hardships (Psalm 73:2–3).

Book Summary:

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/23/2024 3:08:45 AM