TRV
Translation
King James Version
This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
Complete Jewish Bible
May this be put on record for a future generation; may a people yet to be created praise ADONAI.
Berean Standard Bible
Let this be written for the generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.
American Standard Version
This shall be written for the generation to come; And a people which shall be created shall praise Jehovah.
World English Bible Messianic
This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise the LORD.
Geneva Bible (1599)
This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people, which shalbe created, shall prayse the Lord.
Young's Literal Translation
This is written for a later generation, And the people created do praise Jah.
In the KJVVerse 15,540 of 31,102
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Commentary on Psalms 102 verses 12–22
12 ¶ But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
Many exceedingly great and precious comforts are here thought of, and mustered up, to balance the foregoing complaints; for unto the upright there arises light in the darkness, so that, though they are cast down, they are not in despair. It is bad with the psalmist himself, bad with the people of God; but he has many considerations to revive himself with.
I. We are dying creatures, and our interests and comforts are dying, but God is an everliving everlasting God (Psa 102:12): "My days are like a shadow; there is no remedy; night is coming upon me; but, thou, O Lord! shalt endure for ever. Our life is transient, but thine is permanent; our friends die, but thou our God diest not; what threatened us cannot touch thee; our names will be written in the dust and buried in oblivion, but thy remembrance shall be unto all generations; to the end of time, nay, to eternity, thou shalt be known and honoured." A good man loves God better than himself, and therefore can balance his own sorrow and death with the pleasing thought of the unchangeable blessedness of the Eternal Mind. God endures for ever, his church's faithful patron and protector; and, his honour and perpetual remembrance being very much bound up in her interests, we may be confident that they shall not be neglected.
II. Poor Zion is now in distress, but there will come a time for her relief and succour (Psa 102:13): Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion. The hope of deliverance is built upon the goodness of God - "Thou wilt have mercy upon Zion, for she has become an object of thy pity;" and upon the power of God - "Thou shalt arise and have mercy, shalt stir up thyself to do it, shalt do it in contempt of all the opposition made by the church's enemies." The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this. That which is very encouraging is that there is a time set for the deliverance of the church, which not only will come some time, but will come at the time appointed, the time which Infinite Wisdom has appointed (and therefore it is the best time) and which Eternal Truth has fixed it to, and therefore it is a certain time, and shall not be forgotten nor further adjourned. At the end of seventy years, the time to favour Zion, by delivering her from the daughter of Babylon, was to come, and at length it did come. Zion was now in ruins, that is, the temple that was built in the city of David: the favouring of Zion is the building of the temple up again, as it is explained, Psa 102:16. This is expected from the favour of God; that will set all to rights, and nothing but that, and therefore Daniel prays (Dan 9:17), Cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary, which is desolate. The building up of Zion is as great a favour to any people as they can desire. No blessing more desirable to a ruined state than the restoring and re-establishing of their church-privileges. Now this is here wished for and longed for, 1. Because it would be a great rejoicing to Zion's friends (Psa 102:14): Thy servants take pleasure even in the stones of the temple, though they were thrown down and scattered, and favour the dust, the very rubbish and ruins of it. Observe here, When the temple was ruined, yet the stones of it were to be had for a new building, and there were those who encouraged themselves with that, for they had a favour even for the dust of it. Those who truly love the church of God love it when it is in affliction as well as when it is in prosperity; and it is a good ground to hope that God will favour the ruins of Zion when he puts it into the heart of his people to favour them, and to show that they do so by their prayers and by their endeavours; as it is also a good plea with God for mercy for Zion that there are those who are so affectionately concerned for her, and are waiting for the salvation of the Lord. 2. Because it would have a good influence upon Zion's neighbours, Psa 102:15. It will be a happy means perhaps of their conversion, at least of their conviction; for so the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, shall have high thoughts of him and his people, and even the kings of the earth shall be affected with his glory. They shall have better thoughts of the church of God than they have had, when God by his providence thus puts an honour upon it; they shall be afraid of doing any thing against it when they see God taking its part; nay, they shall say, We will go with you, for we have seen that God is with you, Zac 8:23. Thus it is said (Est 8:17) that many of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell upon them. 3. Because it would redound to the honour of Zion's God (Psa 102:16): When the Lord shall build up Zion. They take it for granted it will be done, for God himself has undertaken it, and he shall then appear in his glory; and for that reason all that have made his glory their highest end desire it and pray for it. Note, The edifying of the church will be the glorifying of God, and therefore we may be assured it will be done in the set time. Those that pray in faith, Father, glorify thy name, may receive the same answer to that prayer which was given to Christ himself by a voice from heaven, I have both glorified it and I will glorify it yet again, though now for a time it may be eclipsed.
III. The prayers of God's people now seem to be slighted and no notice taken of them, but they will be reviewed and greatly encouraged (Psa 102:17): He will regard the prayer of the destitute. It was said (Psa 102:16) that God will appear in his glory, such a glory as kings themselves shall stand in awe of, Psa 102:15. When great men appear in their glory they are apt to look with disdain upon the poor that apply to them; but the great God will not do so. Observe, 1. The meanness of the petitioners; they are the destitute. It is an elegant word that is here used, which signifies the heath in the wilderness, a low shrub, or bush, like the hyssop of the wall. They are supposed to be in a low and broken state, enriched with spiritual blessings, but destitute of temporal good things - the poor, the weak, the desolate, the stripped; thus variously is the word rendered; or it may signify that low and broken spirit which God looks for in all that draw nigh to him and which he will graciously look upon. This will bring them to their knees. Destitute people should be praying people, Ti1 5:5. 2. The favour of God to them, notwithstanding their meanness: He will regard their prayer, and will look at it, will peruse their petition (Ch2 6:40), and he will not despise their prayer. More is implied than is expressed: he will value it and be well pleased with it, and will return an answer of peace to it, which is the greatest honour that can be put upon it. But it is thus expressed because others despise their praying, they themselves fear God will despise it, and he was thought to despise it while their affliction was prolonged and their prayers lay unanswered. When we consider our own meanness and vileness, our darkness and deadness, and the manifold defects in our prayers, we have cause to suspect that our prayers will be received with disdain in heaven; but we are here assured of the contrary, for we have an advocate with the Father, and are under grace, not under the law. This instance of God's favour to his praying people, though they are destitute, will be a lasting encouragement to prayer (Psa 102:18): This shall be written for the generation to come, that none may despair, though they be destitute, nor think their prayers forgotten because they have not an answer to them immediately. The experiences of others should be our encouragements to seek unto God and trust in him. And, if we have the comfort of the experiences of others, it is fit that we should give God the glory of them: The people who shall be created shall praise the Lord for what he has done both for them and for their predecessors. Many that are now unborn shall, by reading the history of the church, be wrought upon to turn proselytes. The people that shall be created anew by divine grace, that are a kind of first-fruits of his creatures, shall praise the Lord for his answers to their prayers when they were more destitute.
IV. The prisoners under condemnation unjustly seem as sheep appointed for the slaughter, but care shall be taken for their discharge (Psa 102:19, Psa 102:20): God has looked down from the height of his sanctuary, from heaven, where he has prepared his throne, that high place, that holy place; thence did the Lord behold the earth, for it is a place of prospect, and nothing on this earth is or can be hidden from his all-seeing eye; he looks down, not to take a view of the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, but to do acts of grace, to hear the groaning of the prisoners (which we desire to be out of the hearing of), and not only to hear them, but to help them, to loose those that are appointed to death, then when there is but a step between them and it. Some understand it of the release of the Jews out of their captivity in Babylon. God heard their groaning there as he did when they were in Egypt (Exo 3:7, Exo 3:9) and came down to deliver them. God takes notice not only of the prayers of his afflicted people, which are the language of grace, but even of their groans, which are the language of nature. See the divine pity in hearing the prisoner's groans, and the divine power in loosing the prisoner's bonds, even when they are appointed to death and are pinioned and double-shackled. We have an instance in Peter, Act 12:6. Such instances as these of the divine condescension and compassion will help, 1. To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and to make it appear that he answers to his name, which he himself proclaimed, The Lord God, gracious and merciful; and this declaration of his name in Zion shall be the matter of his praise in Jerusalem, Psa 102:21. If God by his providences declare his name, we must by our acknowledgments of them declare his praise, which ought to be the echo of his name. God will discharge his people that were prisoners and captives in Babylon, that they may declare his name in Zion, the place he has chosen to put his name there, and his praise in Jerusalem, at their return thither; in the land of their captivity they could not sing the songs of Zion (Psa 137:3, Psa 137:4), and God brought them again to Jerusalem in order that they might sing them there. For this end God gives liberty from bondage (Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name, Psa 142:7), and life from the dead. Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee, Psa 119:175. 2. They will help to draw in others to the worship of God (Psa 102:22): When the people of God are gathered together at Jerusalem (as they were after their return out of Babylon) many out of the kingdoms joined with them to serve the Lord. This was fulfilled Ezr 6:21, where we find that not only the children of Israel that had come out of captivity, but many that had separated themselves from them among the heathen, did keep the feast of unleavened bread with joy. But it may look further, at the conversion of the Gentiles to the faith of Christ in the latter days. Christ has proclaimed liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those that were bound, that they may declare the name of the Lord in the gospel-church, in which Jews and Gentiles shall unite.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 12–22. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 102
"Let these things be written for those that come after" [Psalm 102:18]. When these words were written, they profited not so much those among whom they were written for they were written to prophesy the New Testament, among men who lived according to the Old Testament. But God had both given that Old Testament, and had settled in that land of promise His own people. But since "Your remembrance is from generation to generation," belongs not to the ungodly, but to the righteous; "in our generation" belongs to the Old Testament; while "in the other generation" belongs to the New Testament; and since the New Testament announces this that was prophesied, "Let these things be written for those that come after: and the people which shall be created, shall praise the Lord." Not the people which is created, but "the people which shall be created." What is clearer, my brethren? Here is prophesied that creation of which the Apostle says: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new." [2 Corinthians 5:17] "For he has looked down from His lofty sanctuary." He has looked down from on high, that He might come unto the humble: from on high He has become humble, that He might exalt the humble....
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 102:18 stands as a profound declaration of God's enduring faithfulness and a prophetic vision for the future. Amidst the psalmist's deep lament, this verse pivots to a confident assertion that God's redemptive acts and His unwavering commitment to His people will not only be meticulously recorded for posterity but will also culminate in a divinely formed generation, brought into existence by His sovereign design, whose ultimate purpose is to offer unceasing praise to the LORD. It powerfully underscores the intergenerational nature of God's covenant and His omnipotent power to bring about His purposes, ensuring His glory is perpetually acknowledged and celebrated across time.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices that enrich its meaning and impact. Prophecy is evident in the forward-looking declaration that "This shall be written for the generation to come" and that "the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD," anticipating future events and God's sovereign work beyond the psalmist's immediate circumstances. The phrase "the people which shall be created" utilizes Divine Fiat or Creative Language, drawing on the imagery of God's original creation (bârâ') to emphasize the supernatural and sovereign nature of His act in bringing forth a new community. This also functions as a form of Metonymy, where "the people which shall be created" stands for the entire redemptive work of God that brings such a people into being. Furthermore, there is a clear element of Intergenerational Instruction, as the writing serves to transmit divine truth and testimony from one generation to the next, ensuring continuity of faith and worship. The entire verse functions as a powerful Statement of Purpose, articulating God's ultimate goal for His redemptive history: the raising up of a people for His praise.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 102:18 profoundly articulates God's enduring commitment to His covenant people and His sovereign power to bring about His purposes across generations. It moves beyond the immediate lament to a grand vision of God's redemptive plan, highlighting that His faithfulness is not confined to one era but extends into the distant future, culminating in a divinely formed people who will eternally praise Him. This verse underscores the biblical emphasis on the importance of remembering and transmitting God's works, ensuring that His story of salvation continues to inspire faith and worship. It also points to the ultimate goal of all creation and redemption: the glorification of God through the worship of His people.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 102:18 offers profound encouragement and a clear call to action for believers today. In times of personal or collective distress, like the psalmist, we are reminded that God's purposes transcend our immediate circumstances. His faithfulness is eternal, and His plan for a people who will praise Him is unshakeable. This verse challenges us to consider our role in the intergenerational transmission of faith. Just as the psalmist desired God's work to be "written" and remembered, we are called to be intentional in documenting and sharing testimonies of God's faithfulness—both personally and corporately—with "the generation to come." This includes teaching our children, mentoring younger believers, and preserving the stories of God's intervention in our lives and in the church's history. It reassures us that God is actively at work, continually drawing people to Himself and creating a people who will worship Him, regardless of current challenges. Our present struggles are not the end; God's overarching plan ensures that His name will be praised by those He calls into being for His glory, providing an enduring hope that anchors us in His sovereign will and motivates our present worship and witness.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "This shall be written" imply for us today?
Answer: "This shall be written" (כָּתַב, kâthab') implies the enduring importance of recording and transmitting God's works and truths. For us today, it underscores the value of Scripture as God's inspired, written Word, which preserves His revelation for all generations. It also encourages us to document and share our own testimonies of God's faithfulness, both individually and corporately. Just as the psalmist's experience was meant to be a lasting record, our stories of God's grace, redemption, and provision can serve as powerful encouragement and instruction for those who come after us, fostering a continuous legacy of faith and worship. This is akin to the commands in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, where God's words are to be on our hearts and diligently taught to our children, ensuring that divine truth is passed down.
Who are "the people which shall be created"?
Answer: "The people which shall be created" (עַם נִבְרָא, ‘am nibrā') refers to a future community brought into existence or profoundly renewed by a sovereign act of God. The verb bârâ' (created) is exclusively used for God's creative work, suggesting a supernatural formation rather than mere natural procreation. In the Old Testament context, it could refer to the physical restoration of Israel after exile, a new spiritual awakening, or even a broader, eschatological people formed by God for His praise. The New Testament reveals that this "new creation" finds its ultimate fulfillment in those who are redeemed through Christ. Believers, regardless of their ethnic background, are described as a "new creation" in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and are God's "workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works" (Ephesians 2:10). Thus, "the people which shall be created" ultimately refers to the church, the body of Christ, gathered from all nations, whose very existence is a testament to God's creative and redemptive power, and whose purpose is to praise Him.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 102:18, with its profound vision of a divinely "created" people offering praise to the LORD, finds its most comprehensive and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ and the New Covenant community He establishes. The "writing" of God's faithfulness, anticipated by the psalmist, is ultimately embodied in the gospel, the enduring testimony of God's redemptive work culminating in Christ's life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection, which is faithfully passed down through the inspired Scriptures. The "generation to come" is not merely a future physical lineage but encompasses all who, across time and ethnicity, are brought into God's family through saving faith in Christ. The pivotal phrase, "the people which shall be created," resonates deeply with the New Testament concept of new creation. Through Christ, believers are not merely reformed or improved but are made entirely new, spiritually born again by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3). As 2 Corinthians 5:17 powerfully declares, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" This new humanity, redeemed by Christ's blood, becomes God's "workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works" (Ephesians 2:10). This divinely "created" people, the Church, is a "chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9). Thus, the prophetic hope of Psalms 102:18 is realized in the global church, a people supernaturally formed by God's grace through Christ, whose very existence and ultimate purpose are to praise the LORD for His glorious salvation, fulfilling the psalmist's ancient vision in a way far grander than he could have imagined.