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The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him, who hope in His loving devotion.
Psalms 147:11 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Yahweh takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.
  • KJV The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
  • NKJV The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.
  • NASB The Lord favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His faithfulness.
  • NLT No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

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

God takes pleasure in those who fear Him and hope in His steadfast love. What delights God is reverent trust, not human strength.

Overview

In contrast to horses and human might, God delights in those who fear Him and rest their hope in His loving kindness. Faith and reverence, not power, please Him. This points to the life of trust in God's mercy that finds its fullness in clinging to Christ.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 12

  • Ps 33:18Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion
  • Mal 3:16–17At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name.
  • Zeph 3:17The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”
  • Ps 149:4For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the afflicted with salvation.
  • Ps 33:22May Your loving devotion rest on us, O LORD, as we put our hope in You.
  • Ps 35:27May those who favor my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “Exalted be the LORD who delights in His servant’s well-being.”
  • Isa 62:4No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride.
  • Prov 11:20The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
  • 1 Pet 1:17Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners.
  • 1 Pet 3:4but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
  • 1 Pet 1:13Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
  • Prov 31:30Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 147:11YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PsalmsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 147:11 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.