Read & explore together
I Will Exalt You, My God and King
Psalm 145 is a song of praise that moves from one worshipper’s words to a wide call for everyone to bless Yahweh. It celebrates who he is, what he does, and how his kingdom lasts through every generation.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
In this psalm, the speaker promises daily praise, then describes Yahweh’s greatness, goodness, kingdom, care, righteousness, nearness, and judgement. The passage stays in the form of poetry and song, using repeated praise and broad statements about all generations, all works, and all flesh.
Psalms 145:1–21Main takeaway
Psalm 145 teaches that Yahweh is worthy of ongoing praise because his greatness, goodness, kingdom, care, and righteous rule extend to all generations.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A personal promise to praiseThe psalm opens with direct praise: “I will exalt you” and “Every day I will praise you”. Yahweh is addressed as “my God, the King”, combining personal devotion with royal honour.
Explanation
The psalm opens with direct praise: “I will exalt you” and “Every day I will praise you”. Yahweh is addressed as “my God, the King”, combining personal devotion with royal honour. His greatness is called “unsearchable”, meaning it cannot be fully measured or exhausted by human words.
02Praise passed from generation to generationThe song does not stay private. One generation tells the next about Yahweh’s works and mighty acts.
Explanation
The song does not stay private. One generation tells the next about Yahweh’s works and mighty acts. The speaker meditates on his glorious majesty and wondrous works, while others speak of his awesome acts, goodness, and righteousness. Praise includes remembering, speaking, and singing about what God is like.
03The kingdom and character of YahwehYahweh is described as gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and rich in loving kindness. His goodness reaches “all”, and his works and saints give thanks.
Explanation
Yahweh is described as gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and rich in loving kindness. His goodness reaches “all”, and his works and saints give thanks. The psalm then points to his kingdom, calling it everlasting and enduring through all generations. His words are faithful, and his deeds are loving.
04Yahweh’s care, nearness, and just ruleThe closing lines describe Yahweh upholding those who fall, giving food in due season, and satisfying every living thing.
Explanation
The closing lines describe Yahweh upholding those who fall, giving food in due season, and satisfying every living thing. He is righteous and gracious, near to those who call on him in truth, and he hears and saves those who fear him. The psalm ends with both preservation and judgement, then a final call for all flesh to bless his holy name.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the psalmist say he will do every day, and what does that show about praise in this psalm?
Look at the repeated promises in the opening verses and notice how often praise is meant to happen.
02How does this psalm show that praise is shared between people, not kept to one person?
Find the verses about one generation, “men”, “saints”, and “all flesh” speaking, singing, or blessing.
03Which verses describe Yahweh’s care for those in need, and which verses describe his just response to people?
Compare the lines about upholding, feeding, hearing, and saving with the line about preserving those who love him and destroying the wicked.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 145:1–21
1I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever.
2Every day I will praise you. I will extol your name forever and ever.
3Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable.
4One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts.
5I will meditate on the glorious majesty of your honor, on your wondrous works.
6Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts. I will declare your greatness.
7They will utter the memory of your great goodness, and will sing of your righteousness.
8Yahweh is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness.
9Yahweh is good to all. His tender mercies are over all his works.
10All your works will give thanks to you, Yahweh. Your saints will extol you.
11They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk about your power,
12to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, the glory of the majesty of his kingdom.
13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Yahweh is faithful in all his words, and loving in all his deeds.
14Yahweh upholds all who fall, and raises up all those who are bowed down.
15The eyes of all wait for you. You give them their food in due season.
16You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17Yahweh is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works.
18Yahweh is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20Yahweh preserves all those who love him, but he will destroy all the wicked.
21My mouth will speak the praise of Yahweh. Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.