But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear Him, And His justice to the 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;
- BSB 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—
- NKJV But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to 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 Yahweh is good. His loving kindness endures forever, his faithfulness to all generations.
- 2 Tim 1:9who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,
- Eph 2:4–7But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
- Exod 20:6and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
- Rom 1:17For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”
- Isa 51:6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look on the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish away like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment; and its inhabitants will die in the same way: but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will not be abolished.
- Eph 1:4–8even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love;
- Rom 8:28–30We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
- 2 Th 2:13–14But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth;
- Acts 13:32–34We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers,
- Rom 15:8Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers,
- Rom 3:21–25But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;
- Jer 31:3Yahweh appeared of old to me, saying, “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness.
- 2 Pet 1:1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
- Jer 33:24–26“Don’t consider what this people has spoken, saying, ‘The two families which Yahweh chose, he has cast them off?’ Thus they despise my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.”
- Ps 25:6Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, for they are from old times.
- Ps 118:1Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
- Mic 6:5My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of Yahweh.”
- Deut 10:15Only Yahweh had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their offspring after them, even you above all peoples, as it is today.
- Isa 41:8“But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham my friend,
- Ps 136:1–26Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever.
- Ps 90:16Let your work appear to your servants; your glory to their children.
- Isa 46:13I bring my righteousness near. It is not far off, and my salvation will not wait. I will grant salvation to Zion, my glory to Israel.
- Ps 22:31They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, for he has done it.
- Dan 9:24Seventy weeks are decreed on your people and on your holy city, to finish disobedience, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.
- Ps 89:1–2A contemplation by Ethan, the Ezrahite. I will sing of the loving kindness of Yahweh forever. With my mouth, I will make known 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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