Psalms 101:1

Of David. A psalm.

1 I will sing of your love and justice; to you, LORD, I will sing praise.

Psalms 101:1 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
English Standard Version (ESV)
1 I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music.
New Living Translation (NLT)
1 I will sing of your love and justice, LORD . I will praise you with songs.
The Message Bible (MSG)
1 My theme song is God's love and justice, and I'm singing it right to you, God.
American Standard Version (ASV)
1 I will sing of lovingkindness and justice: Unto thee, O Jehovah, will I sing praises.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
1 I will sing about mercy and justice. O LORD, I will make music to praise you.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
1 I will sing of faithful love and justice; I will sing praise to You, Lord.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
1 I will sing about your love and fairness. Lord, I will sing praise to you.

Psalms 101:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 101:1

I will sing of mercy and judgment
Either of mercy and justice, exercised by him towards his people, which he resolved to do, and did, ( 2 Samuel 8:15 ) which are two very principal points in government, are the glory of a reign, the support of the throne, and the happiness of a people, ( Proverbs 20:28 ) , or rather of the mercy of God to himself, in delivering him from his enemies, and raising him to the throne; and of the judgment of God in maintaining his cause, and avenging him on those that hated him: every good man has reason to sing of the "mercy" of God; not only of his providential mercy, but of his special mercy, prepared in council and covenant for him, displayed in regeneration, in the pardon of sin, and in his everlasting salvation: or of "grace" and goodness, as the word F6 signifies; of the grace and goodness of God laid up in Christ, shown forth through him, and to which the whole of salvation is owing; singing of this shows a sense of it, thankfulness for it, and a cheerful disposition of soul, in a view of interest in it: and he may also sing of "judgment": of righteous punishment inflicted upon his enemies, and the enemies of God, and Christ, and true religion; not as taking delight in the misery of fellow creatures, but as rejoicing in the glory of divine justice displayed therein, and in a deliverance from them; as Israel did at the Red sea; and as the church will, when Babylon is destroyed: moreover, a good man may sing of mercy and judgment together, with respect to himself; there being, in the course of his life, a mixture of prosperity and adversity, of merciful and afflictive dispensations, which work together for his good; and he has reason to be thankful for the one as for the other, as Job was, ( Job 1:21 ) , so the Targum,

``if thou renderest mercy to me; if thou exercisest judgment on me; for all I will praise thee:''

judgment sometimes signifies chastisement, ( Jeremiah 10:24 ) ( 1 Corinthians 11:32 ) , it may be understood of Christ, who sung of the mercy of God, as shown in the mission of him into the world to save men, and which was glorified in their redemption by him; and of the justice of God exercised on him, as their surety, on whom judgment came unto condemnation for their sins; and when the sword of justice was awaked against him, the hand of mercy was turned on the little ones, ( Zechariah 13:7 ) ,

unto thee, O Lord, will I sing;
on the above subjects.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 (dox) "gratiam", Gejerus, Michaelis.

Psalms 101:1 In-Context

1 I will sing of your love and justice; to you, LORD, I will sing praise.
2 I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me? I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart.
3 I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.
4 The perverse of heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with what is evil.
5 Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Psalms 33:1; Psalms 51:14; Psalms 89:1; Psalms 145:7
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