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—
Parallel translations
- WEB But Yahweh’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children’s children;
- KJV But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
- NKJV But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,
- NASB But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear Him, And His justice to the children’s children,
- NLT But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
In contrast to fleeting human life, God's steadfast love is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, extending to their children. His mercy outlasts every generation.
Overview
Against the backdrop of human frailty, David exalts the eternity of God's covenant love. It reaches not only the faithful but their descendants, marking the generational faithfulness of God. This everlasting love is secured forever in Christ, whose covenant mercy never fails.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 26
- Ps 100:5For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations.
- 2 Tim 1:9He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
- Eph 2:4–7But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
- Exod 20:6but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
- Rom 1:17For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
- Isa 51:6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth below; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its people will die like gnats. But My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never fail.
- Eph 1:4–8For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
- Rom 8:28–30And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- 2 Th 2:13–14But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.
- Acts 13:32–34And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers
- Rom 15:8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,
- Rom 3:21–25But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.
- Jer 31:3The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.
- 2 Pet 1:1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
- Jer 33:24–26“Have you not noticed what these people are saying: ‘The LORD has rejected the two families He had chosen’? So they despise My people and no longer regard them as a nation.
- Ps 25:6Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and loving devotion, for they are from age to age.
- Ps 118:1Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
- Mic 6:5My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”
- Deut 10:15Yet the LORD has set His affection on your fathers and loved them. And He has chosen you, their descendants after them, above all the peoples, even to this day.
- Isa 41:8“But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend—
- Ps 136:1–26Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His loving devotion endures forever.
- Ps 90:16May Your work be shown to Your servants, and Your splendor to their children.
- Isa 46:13I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.
- Ps 22:31They will come and proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn—all that He has done.
- Dan 9:24Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
- Ps 89:1–2A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the loving devotion of the LORD forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations.
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 103:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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