Psalms 104:31
May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse isn't just stating a fact about God's enduring glory; it's expressing a deep desire, a prayer, that God would be glorified and would continue to find joy in His creation. It calls us to align our hearts with God's own pleasure in His works, rather than grieving Him as humanity often has.
The psalm concludes by affirming God's eternal glory and His pleasure in His creation, contrasting it with the fleeting nature of human endeavors. It moves from the vastness of creation to the specific needs of humanity and closes with a prayer for sinners to be removed, allowing for perpetual praise and for God to eternally rejoice in His works, rather than regretting them as He did in the days before the flood.
We often chase after glory – fame, success, recognition. But what if true glory isn't something we grasp, but something that is eternal and inherently God's?
The verse declares, 'May the glory of the LORD endure forever.' This isn't just a wish; it's a profound statement of reality. Unlike human achievements that crumble and fade, God's glory is absolute and eternal. It's the radiant expression of His very being – His power, His wisdom, His love. This glory is the source of His worthiness of all praise, and it will continue to shine, fully and eternally, regardless of human opinion or circumstance.
We often associate joy with receiving praise or seeing our plans succeed. But where does God find His joy? It might surprise you.
The second part of the verse says, 'may the LORD rejoice in his works.' This isn't just about God tolerating His creation; it's about Him finding deep satisfaction and pleasure in it. From the breathtaking complexity of the cosmos to the smallest detail of a living creature, God delights in the expression of His own attributes. He saw His creation as 'very good' at its inception, and He continues to find joy in its existence, its order, and the way it reflects His character. This is especially true for His work of redemption, where He rejoices over those He has saved.
Understand the original words
kabod · Hebrew Noun
The manifestation of God's presence, splendor, and majesty. It refers to the weight or significance of God's character revealed in His creation and history.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the God of Israel (Yahweh), the covenant-keeping God who is the self-existent "I AM."
samach · Hebrew Verb
To feel or express deep joy, gladness, or delight. When applied to God, it signifies His satisfaction in His creation and His delight in covenant relationship with His people.
This passage directly links to the idea of God rejoicing in His works, as it describes God viewing all that He made and finding it 'very good'.
Isaiah 40:28This verse emphasizes God's eternal nature and unfailing strength, echoing the enduring glory of the Lord mentioned in the psalm.
Colossians 1:16This New Testament passage speaks of all things being created through Christ and for Him, highlighting the divine purpose and ownership within God's works.
Revelation 4:11This vision of heavenly worship declares that God created all things and that they exist 'by your will and for your purpose,' aligning with the theme of God's pleasure in His creation.
Hebrews 1:3This verse describes Jesus upholding all things by His word of power, connecting the sustaining of creation to the ongoing glory and divine activity of God.
gillPsalms 104:31: "The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works."
The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever,.... The glory which arises from the works of his hands, which is due unto him, and shall be given him; this is opposed to the perishing and fading glory of all created beings: and as Christ is the person spoken of throughout the whole psalm, this may be understood of his glory as the only begotten of the Father; and which is equal to his Father's glory,…
ellicottPsalms 104:31: "The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works."
(31) The Lord shall rejoice. —The poet still follows Genesis in representing God as looking on His finished work with pleasure, but he says nothing of a sabbath. But it is possible that the thought of the sabbath hymns of praise led him to join man with the Divine Being in celebrating the glory and perfection of creation.
The verse isn't just stating a fact about God's enduring glory; it's expressing a deep desire, a prayer, that God would be glorified and would continue to find joy in His creation. It calls us to align our hearts with God's own pleasure in His works, rather than grieving Him as humanity often has.
The psalm concludes by affirming God's eternal glory and His pleasure in His creation, contrasting it with the fleeting nature of human endeavors. It moves from the vastness of creation to the specific needs of humanity and closes with a prayer for sinners to be removed, allowing for perpetual praise and for God to eternally rejoice in His works, rather than regretting them as He did in the days before the flood.
The psalm concludes by affirming God's eternal glory and His pleasure in His creation, contrasting it with the fleeting nature of human endeavors. It moves from the vastness of creation to the specific needs of humanity and closes with a prayer for sinners to be removed, allowing for perpetual praise and for God to eternally rejoice in His works, rather than regretting them as He did in the days before the flood.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Psalms 104:31 is available in the Sola app.
"May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works," — The verse isn't just stating a fact about God's enduring glory; it's expressing a deep desire, a prayer, that God would be glorified and would continue to find joy in His creation. It calls us to…
