(composite translation)
Not to us, YHVH,
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
Why do the nations say,
"Where is their Elohim?"
Our Elohim is in the heavens;
he has done whatever he has pleased.
Their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see;
they have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell;
they have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
nor do they utter a sound through their throats.
Those who make them will be like them;
those who trust them will be like them.
O house of Yisra'el, trust in YHVH---
he is their help and shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in YHVH---
he is their help and shield.
You who revere YHVH, trust in YHVH---
he is their help and shield.
YHVH has remembered us; he will bless us:
He will bless the house of Yisra'el,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
he will bless those who revere YHVH---
both small and great.
YHVH will increase you,
you and your children.
You are blessed by YHVH,
who formed the heavens and the earth.
The heavens of heavens are of YHVH,
but the earth he has given to the children of earth.
The dead do not praise Yah,
those who descend into silence;
we bless Yah
now and forevermore.
Hallelu Yah.
This song was written as a liturgy. The "We" lines are to be read by the people, and the "O house of" lines are to be read by the priests. From the beginning to the end this is a poem of praise, as many of the Psalms are---though this has a bit of commentary about neighbouring religions thrown in.
To the poet, even the name of G-d is worthy of praise, for he does whatever he wants---and what he wants is to preserve Yisra'el, to be a help and shield (magen) to them. So one should trust in G-d. On the other hand, trusting in an idol (interestingly, the poem does not mention trusting in what lies beyond the idol) makes one like the idol---immobile and not taking part in the world.
The poet concludes by informing us that it is the children who are blessed and who shall inherit the earth, and commends us to bless and praise G-d.
The verse: "Our Elohim is in the heavens; he has done whatever he has pleased." is sometimes invoked in Biblical arguments for the conclusion that G-d is omnipotent. Such an interpretation fails, however, for it does not square with the fact that the Hebrew verb in this sentence is past perfect (despite the fact that the verse is sometimes translated "... he will do whatever pleases him"!) and tends to suggest completion. Further, being able to do what you want does not entail being able to do anything whatsoever---unless you want to do anything whatsoever. Other passages suggest that G-d's desires are not capricious.
The reading of this poem that requires us to introduce the fewest assumptions appears to be a simple song of praise. (Incidentally, I didn't know until I started writing this node that this psalm uses three different words for G-d---admittedly, Yah is a shortened form of YHVH.)
Bibliography
- NIV English translation of the Bible -- basic structure of psalm
- http://www.blueletterbible.org -- comparison of various English translations with Hebrew source texts