TRV
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 145 verses 1–9
The entitling of this David's psalm of praise may intimate not only that he was the penman of it, but that he took a particular pleasure in it and sung it often; it was his companion wherever he went. In this former part of the psalm God's glorious attributes are praised, as, in the latter part of the psalm, his kingdom and the administration of it. Observe,
I. Who shall be employed in giving glory to God.
1.Whatever others do, the psalmist will himself be much in praising God. To this good work he here excites himself, engages himself, and has his heart much enlarged in it. What he does, that he will do, having more and more satisfaction in it. It was his duty; it was his delight. Observe, (1.) How he expresses the work itself: "I will extol thee, and bless thy name (Psa 145:1); I will speak well of thee, as thou hast made thyself known, and will therein express my own high thoughts of thee and endeavour to raise the like in others." When we speak honourably of God, this is graciously interpreted and accepted as an extolling of him. Again (Psa 145:2): I will bless thee, I will praise thy name; the repetition intimates the fervency of his affection to this work, the fixedness of his purpose to abound in it, and the frequency of his performances therein. Again (Psa 145:5): I will speak of thy honour, and (Psa 145:6) I will declare thy greatness. He would give glory to God, not only in his solemn devotions, but in his common conversation. If the heart be full of God, out of the abundance of that the mouth will speak with reverence, to his praise, upon all occasions. What subject of discourse can we find more noble, more copious, more pleasant, useful, and unexceptionable, than the glory of God? (2.) How he expresses his resolution to persevere in it. [1.] He will be constant to this work: Every day will I bless thee. Praising God must be our daily work. No day must pass, though ever so busy a day, though ever so sorrowful a day, without praising God. We ought to reckon it the most needful of our daily employments, and the most delightful of our daily comforts. God is every day blessing us, doing well for us; there is therefore reason that we should be every day blessing him, speaking well of him. [2.] He will continue in it: I will bless thee for ever and ever, Psa 145:1 and again Psa 145:2. This intimates, First, That he resolved to continue in this work to the end of his life, throughout his ever in this world. Secondly, That the psalms he penned should be made use of in praising God by the church to the end of time, Ch2 29:30. Thirdly, That he hoped to be praising God to all eternity in the other world. Those that make praise their constant work on earth shall have it their everlasting bliss in heaven.
2.He doubts not but others also would be forward to this work. (1.) "They shall concur in it now; they shall join with me in it: When I declare thy greatness men shall speak of it (Psa 145:6); they shall abundantly utter it" (Psa 145:7), or pour it out (as the word is); they shall praise God with a gracious fluency, better than the most curious oratory. David's zeal would provoke many, and it has done so. (2.) "They shall keep it up when I am gone, in an uninterrupted succession (Psa 145:4): One generation shall praise thy works to another." The generation that is going off shall tell them to that which is rising up, shall tell what they have seen in their days and what they have heard from their fathers; they shall fully and particularly declare thy mighty acts (Psa 78:3); and the generation that is rising up shall follow the example of that which is going off: so that the death of God's worshippers shall be no diminution of his worship, for a new generation shall rise up in their room to carry on that good work, more or less, to the end of time, when it shall be left to that world to do it in which there is no succession of generations.
II. What we must give to God the glory of.
1.Of his greatness and his great works. We must declare, Great is the Lord, his presence infinite, his power irresistible, his brightness insupportable, his majesty awful, his dominion boundless, and his sovereignty incontestable; and therefore there is no dispute, but great is the Lord, and, if great, then greatly to be praised, with all that is within us, to the utmost of our power, and with all the circumstances of solemnity imaginable. His greatness indeed cannot be comprehended, for it is unsearchable; who can conceive or express how great God is? But then it is so much the more to be praised. When we cannot, by searching, find the bottom, we must sit down at the brink, and adore the depth, Rom 11:33. God is great, for, (1.) His majesty is glorious in the upper world, above the heavens, where he has set his glory; and when we are declaring his greatness we must not fail to speak of the glorious honour of his majesty, the splendour of the glory of his majesty (Psa 145:5), how brightly he shines in the upper world, so as to dazzle the eyes of the angels themselves, and oblige them to cover their faces, as unable to bear the lustre of it. (2.) His works are wondrous in this lower world. The preservation, maintenance, and government of all the creatures, proclaim the Creator very great. When therefore we declare his greatness we must observe the unquestionable proofs of it, and must declare his mighty acts (Psa 145:4), speak of his wondrous works (Psa 145:5), the might of his terrible acts, Psa 145:6. We must see God acting and working in all the affairs of this lower world. Various instruments are used, but in all events God is the supreme director; it is he that performs all things. Much of his power is seen in the operations of his providence (they are mighty acts, such as cannot be paralleled by the strength of any creature), and much of his justice - they are terrible acts, awful to saints, dreadful to sinners. These we should take all occasions to speak of, observing the finger of God, his hand, his arm, in all, that we may marvel.
2.Of his goodness; this is his glory, Exo 33:19. It is what he glories in (Exo 34:6, Exo 34:7), and it is what we must give him the glory of: They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, Psa 145:7. God's goodness is great goodness, the treasures of it can never be exhausted, nay, they can never be lessened, for he ever will be as rich in mercy as he ever was. It is memorable goodness; it is what we ought always to lay before us, always to have in mind and preserve the memorials of, for it is worthy to be had in everlasting remembrance; and the remembrance we retain of God's goodness we should utter, we should abundantly utter, as those who are full of it, very full of it, and desire that others may be acquainted and affected with it. But, whenever we utter God's great goodness, we must not forget, at the same time, to sing of his righteousness; for, as he is gracious in rewarding those that serve him faithfully, so he is righteous in punishing those that rebel against him. Impartial and inflexible justice is as surely in God as inexhaustible goodness; and we must sing of both together, Rom 11:22. (1.) There is a fountain of goodness in God's nature (Psa 145:8): The Lord is gracious to those that serve him; he is full of compassion to those that need him, slow to anger to those that have offended him, and of great mercy to all that seek him and sue to him. he is ready to give, and ready to forgive, more ready than we are to ask, than we are to repent. (2.) There are streams of goodness in all the dispensations of his providence, Psa 145:9. As he is good, so he does good; he is good to all, to all his creatures, from the highest angel to the meanest worm, to all but devils and damned sinners, that have shut themselves out from his goodness. His tender mercies are over all his works. [1.] All his works, all his creatures, receive the fruits of his merciful care and bounty. It is extended to them all; he hates nothing that he has made. [2.] The works of his mercy out-shine all his other works, and declare him more than any of them. In nothing will the glory of God be for ever so illustrious as in the vessels of mercy ordained to glory. To the divine goodness will the everlasting hallelujahs of all the saints be sung.
They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.
Continue studying Psalms 145:7 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Psalms 145:7 is a vibrant declaration of the fervent and overflowing praise due to God from His people. It emphasizes a dual expression of worship: the abundant proclamation of His magnificent goodness and the joyful singing of His perfect righteousness. This verse captures the essence of a community deeply engaged in remembering and celebrating the character and deeds of a benevolent and just God, inspiring uninhibited and continuous adoration.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 145:7 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of fervent praise. The most prominent is Parallelism, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the second clause ("and shall sing of thy righteousness") largely reiterates and amplifies the meaning of the first clause ("They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness"). Both clauses describe vocal, communal expressions of praise, reinforcing the idea of a comprehensive and dual response to God's character. The phrase "abundantly utter" utilizes Hyperbole and a vivid Metaphor (from nâbaʻ, "to gush forth"), creating an image of praise that is so overwhelming it cannot be contained, bursting forth like a spring. This emphasizes the intensity and spontaneity of the worship. Furthermore, the psalm as a whole is an Acrostic, though not explicitly visible in this single verse, which contributes to its sense of completeness and intentionality in praising God from A to Z, reflecting the totality of His attributes.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly articulates the appropriate human response to divine revelation: a spontaneous, abundant, and joyful proclamation of God's character. It highlights that true worship is not merely an internal sentiment but an outward, vocal, and communal act rooted in the remembrance of God's past faithfulness and a deep understanding of His nature. The pairing of "goodness" and "righteousness" is theologically significant, presenting a balanced view of God as both mercifully benevolent and perfectly just. This holistic understanding prevents a sentimentalized view of God's love without His holiness or a harsh view of His justice without His compassion. It underscores that God's actions are always consistent with His perfect character, which inspires both awe and adoration.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 145:7 serves as a powerful call for believers today to engage in active, uninhibited, and joyful praise of God. It challenges us to move beyond passive acknowledgment to an abundant "uttering" and "singing" of His goodness and righteousness. This means intentionally recalling His past faithfulness in our lives and in history, allowing those memories to fuel our present gratitude and hope. It encourages us to proclaim His character not only in formal worship settings but also in our daily lives, sharing His truth with those around us. When we truly grasp the depth of God's benevolence and His unwavering justice, our response should naturally overflow in praise, shaping our perspective, strengthening our faith, and inspiring us to live lives that reflect the very attributes we celebrate.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of "abundantly utter" in this verse?
Answer: The Hebrew word translated "abundantly utter" is nâbaʻ (H5042), which literally means "to gush forth" or "to bubble up." This imagery conveys an overflowing, spontaneous, and uninhibited declaration. It suggests that the praise for God's goodness is not forced or reluctant, but bursts forth naturally and copiously from a heart filled with wonder and gratitude. It's a powerful call to vocal and public proclamation, not just internal reflection, reflecting the communal nature of worship often seen in the Psalms, such as Psalms 96:1-3.
Why are "goodness" and "righteousness" paired together in this declaration of praise?
Answer: The pairing of "goodness" (ṭûwb, H2898) and "righteousness" (tsᵉdâqâh, H6666) is crucial for a complete understanding of God's character and for balanced worship. "Goodness" speaks to God's benevolence, kindness, and generosity—His loving nature and the benefits He bestows. "Righteousness" speaks to His perfect moral integrity, His justice, and His faithfulness to His covenant promises. Together, they present a holistic picture of God as both merciful and just, loving and holy. True praise acknowledges both aspects, recognizing that His love is not sentimental but grounded in perfect justice, and His justice is always tempered by His inherent goodness. This duality is a recurring theme in Scripture, seen in passages like Exodus 34:6-7.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 145:7 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the supreme embodiment and revelation of God's "great goodness" and perfect "righteousness." In His life, ministry, death, and resurrection, Jesus perfectly displayed the Father's benevolence, compassion, and unwavering love, fulfilling the divine goodness that the psalmist praised. As the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, Christ's sacrifice on the cross demonstrates God's ultimate goodness in providing salvation, while simultaneously upholding His perfect righteousness by justly dealing with sin. Through Christ, believers are not only recipients of God's goodness but are also imputed with His righteousness (2-corinthians/5-21). Therefore, the "abundant uttering" and "singing" of God's goodness and righteousness are now directed through and to Jesus, who is the radiance of God's glory and the exact imprint of His nature. The church, as the body of Christ, continues this generational praise, proclaiming the gospel—the ultimate expression of God's goodness and righteousness—to all nations, just as Jesus commanded His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations.