Discovery BoxPsalms 115:2-8 
Context115:2 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
115:3 Our God is in heaven!
He does whatever he pleases! 1
115:4 Their 2 idols are made of silver and gold –
they are man-made. 3
115:5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see,
115:6 ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell,
115:7 hands, but cannot touch,
feet, but cannot walk.
They cannot even clear their throats. 4
115:8 Those who make them will end up 5 like them,
as will everyone who trusts in them.
1 sn He does whatever he pleases. Such sovereignty is characteristic of kings (see Eccl 8:3).
2 tn The referent of the pronominal suffix is “the nations” (v. 2).
3 tn Heb “the work of the hands of man.”
4 tn Heb “they cannot mutter in their throats.” Verse 5a refers to speaking, v. 7c to inarticulate sounds made in the throat (see M. Dahood, Psalms [AB], 3:140-41).
5 tn Heb “will be.” Another option is to take the prefixed verbal form as a prayer, “may those who make them end up like them.”
sn Because the idols are lifeless, they cannot help their worshipers in times of crisis. Consequently the worshipers end up as dead as the gods in which they trust.
