Psalms 103:17

Brenton's Septuagint

But the mercy of the Lord is from generation to generation upon them that fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children;

Parallel Translations

New Living Translation
But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children's children

English Revised Version
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

Update Bible Version
But the loving-kindness of Yahweh is from everlasting to everlasting on those that fear him, And his righteousness to sons of sons;

New Century Version
But the Lord 's love for those who respect him continues forever and ever, and his goodness continues to their grandchildren

New English Translation
But the Lord continually shows loyal love to his faithful followers, and is faithful to their descendants,

Webster's Bible Translation
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness to children's children;

World English Bible
But Yahweh's lovingkindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, His righteousness to children's children;

Amplified Bible
But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who [reverently] fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,

English Standard Version
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But the merci of the Lord is fro with out bigynnyng, and til in to with outen ende; on men dredinge hym. And his riytfulnesse is in to the sones of sones;

Berean Standard Bible
But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children's children-

Contemporary English Version
The Lord is always kind to those who worship him, and he keeps his promises to their descendants

American Standard Version
But the lovingkindness of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children's children;

Bible in Basic English
But the mercy of the Lord is eternal for his worshippers, and their children's children will see his righteousness;

Complete Jewish Bible
But the mercy of Adonai on those who fear him is from eternity past to eternity future, and his righteousness extends to his children's children,

Darby Translation
But the loving-kindness of Jehovah is from everlasting and to everlasting, upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children,

Easy-to-Read Version
But the Lord has always loved his followers, and he will continue to love them forever and ever! He will be good to all their descendants,

JPS Old Testament (1917)
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him,

King James Version (1611)
But the mercy of the Lord is from euerlasting to euerlasting vpon them that feare him: and his righteousnesse vnto childrens children:

New Life Bible
But the loving-kindness of the Lord is forever and forever on those who fear Him. And what is right with God is given forever to their children's children,

New Revised Standard
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children,

Geneva Bible (1587)
But the louing kindnesse of the Lord endureth for euer and euer vpon them that feare him, and his righteousnes vpon childrens children,

George Lamsa Translation
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that reverence him, and his righteousness to childrens children,

Good News Translation
But for those who honor the Lord , his love lasts forever, and his goodness endures for all generations

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, the lovingkindness of Yahweh, is from one age even to another, Upon them who revere him, And his righteousness, to children's children: -

Douay-Rheims Bible
(102-17) But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity and unto eternity upon them that fear him: And his justice unto children’s children,

Revised Standard Version
But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But the mercifull goodnesse of God endureth for euer and euer, vpon them that feare hym: and his righteousnesse vpon childers children.

Christian Standard Bible®
But from eternity to eternitythe Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear him,and his righteousness toward the grandchildren

Hebrew Names Version
But the LORD's lovingkindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, His righteousness to children's children;

King James Version
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

Lexham English Bible
But the loyal love of Yahweh is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to their children's children,

Literal Translation
But the mercy of Jehovah is from everlasting, even to everlasting, on those who fear Him; yea, His righteousness is to the sons of sons;

Young's Literal Translation
And the kindness of Jehovah [Is] from age even unto age on those fearing Him, And His righteousness to sons' sons,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But the mercifull goodnesse of ye LORDE endureth for euer and euer, vpon them yt feare him, and his rightuousnesse vpon their childers children.

New American Standard Bible
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear Him, And His justice to the children's children,

New King James Version
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,

Legacy Standard Bible
But the lovingkindness of Yahweh is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,And His righteousness to children's children,

Contextual Overview

⁶ The Lord executes mercy and judgment for all that are injured. ⁷ He made known his ways to Moses, his will to the children of Israel. ⁸ The Lord is compassionate and pitiful, long-suffering, and full of mercy. ⁹ He will not be always angry; neither will he be wrathful for ever. ¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor recompensed us according to our iniquities. ¹¹ For as the heaven is high above the earth, the Lord has so increased his mercy toward them that fear him. ¹² As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. ¹³ As a father pities his children, the Lord pities them that fear him. ¹⁴ For he knows our frame: remember that we are dust. ¹⁵ As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so shall he flourish.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the mercy: Psalms 89:1, Psalms 89:2, Psalms 100:5, Psalms 118:1, Psalms 136:1-26, Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 8:28-30, Ephesians 1:4-8, Ephesians 2:4-7, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Thessalonians 2:14, 2 Timothy 1:9

his righteousness: Psalms 22:31, Isaiah 46:13, Isaiah 51:6, Daniel 9:24, Micah 6:5, Romans 1:17, Romans 3:21-25, 2 Peter 1:1

unto children's: Psalms 90:16, Exodus 20:6, Deuteronomy 10:15, Isaiah 41:8, Jeremiah 33:24-26, Acts 13:32-34, Romans 15:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:8 - everlasting Exodus 19:5 - keep Deuteronomy 29:9 - General 2 Kings 4:1 - thy servant did fear 1 Chronicles 16:41 - to give 2 Chronicles 6:14 - mercy 2 Chronicles 7:3 - For he is Ezra 3:11 - because Psalms 23:6 - goodness Psalms 25:6 - for they Psalms 25:10 - keep Psalms 30:5 - For Psalms 36:10 - continue Psalms 37:18 - their Psalms 52:1 - goodness Psalms 62:12 - mercy Psalms 90:2 - even from Psalms 103:11 - his mercy Psalms 103:13 - them Psalms 106:1 - for he Psalms 107:1 - for his mercy Psalms 111:3 - righteousness Psalms 118:29 - General Psalms 119:38 - who is devoted Psalms 128:1 - every one Psalms 138:8 - thy mercy Proverbs 19:23 - fear Isaiah 45:17 - an everlasting Isaiah 54:8 - but Isaiah 64:5 - in those Jeremiah 3:12 - for I am Joel 2:18 - and pity Habakkuk 3:6 - his Malachi 3:6 - therefore Luke 1:50 - General John 10:28 - they Acts 11:14 - all Romans 8:35 - shall separate Ephesians 3:18 - able 2 Thessalonians 2:16 - everlasting Hebrews 13:8 - General 1 Peter 1:5 - kept

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him,.... In opposition to the frailty of man, the stability and duration of the mercy of God is observed. This reaches from one eternity to another; it is from everlasting in the heart of God: it appeared in the choice of the vessels of mercy; in the covenant of grace, which is founded upon it, and filled with it; every blessing of which flows from it, and therefore are called the "sure mercies of David". And it appears in time in the regeneration of God's elect, which is according to his abundant mercy; in the forgiveness of their sins, which is according to the multitude of his tender mercies; and in their whole salvation, which is by that, and not by works of righteousness; and will endure for ever, for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ is unto eternal life. It reaches from the world past to the world to come, as the Targum; and it is so "upon them that fear" the Lord; not with a servile, but a filial fear; a fear of the Lord and his goodness; which only is consistent with the grace and mercy of God, and a sense of it: not that the fear of God is the cause of mercy or grace; but, on the contrary, grace and mercy are the cause of the fear of God; which is a blessing of the covenant of grace, and one of the first things which appear in conversion; but this properly describes the persons who openly and manifestly share in the grace or mercy of God, and to whom he manifests it yet more and more; nor have any reason to believe they are the objects of it, until the true fear of God is wrought in their hearts; and, besides, this character may be given to show that the mercy and grace of God are not limited to the Israelites only, but belong to such of all nations that fear the Lord.

And his righteousness unto children's children; not the essential righteousness of God, but rather his faithfulness in the performance of his promises, which he will not suffer to fail: the justifying righteousness of Christ is here meant; which is an everlasting one, and is unto and upon all them that believe, in all successive generations; which is meant by the phrase of "children's children", even the spiritual seed of Christ, the seed of the church, the seed of Israel; to all and each of which, in every age, the word of God comes, and his promises are fulfilled; and who are justified by and glory in Christ, their righteousness; and who are further described in the next verse, which shows that not the carnal seed of them that fear the Lord are meant.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But the mercy of the Lord - The favor of the Lord; or, his loving-kindness.

Is from everlasting to everlasting - Is from the eternity past to the eternity to come. It had its foundation in the eternal decrees of God; it has its security in his purpose that where it is conferred, it shall not be withdrawn. It had no beginning; it will have no end. There never was a period in the past when it was not the purpose of God to save his people; there never will be a period in the future when it will be said that his saving mercy has ceased. It would be difficult to think of a statement which would at the same time, in so few words, confirm at once the doctrine of the divine decrees, and the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. If either of these doctrines is denied, then what is here stated by the psalmist is not true: if the doctrine of the divine decrees is denied, then his purpose of mercy had a beginning, and is not “from everlasting;” if the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is denied, then his mercy has an end, and is not “to everlasting.”

Upon them that fear him - In respect to those who are his true worshippers, or his true people.

And his righteousness - His righteous purpose; or, his purpose in regard to their “becoming” righteous.

Unto children’s children - literally, “sons of sons.” That is, his purposes embrace the children and children’s children of the righteous; or, they are included in the covenant of mercy. See the notes at Acts 2:39. Compare Exodus 20:6.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 103:17. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting — חסד chesed signifies more particularly the exuberant goodness of God. This is an attribute of his nature, and must be from everlasting to everlasting; and hence, his righteousness (צדקת tsidketh) - his merciful mode of justifying the ungodly, is extended from one generation to another.

Unto children's children. — It is still in force, and the doctrine of reconciliation through Christ shall continue to be preached till the conclusion of time.