John Calvin Commentary Psalms 145:4

"One generation shall laud thy works to another, And shall declare thy mighty acts." — Psalms 145:4 (ASV)

Generation to generation, and so forth. Here he insists upon the general truth that all people were made and are preserved in life for this purpose: that they might devote themselves to the praise of God. And there is an implied contrast between the eternal name of God and the immortality of renown that great men seem to acquire by their exploits.

Human excellencies are eulogized in histories; with God it is different, for not a day passes when he does not renew the remembrance of his works and cherish it by some present effect, so as to indelibly preserve it alive in our minds. For the same reason, he speaks of the glorious brightness, or beauty, of his excellence, the better to inspire in others a fitting admiration for it.

By the words of his wonderful works, I consider that this alludes to the incomprehensible method of God’s works, for the wonders are so numerous that they overwhelm our senses.

We may infer from this that God's greatness is not something concealed in his mysterious essence. Many have been guilty of mere trifling by engaging in subtle debates about this essence while neglecting his works, for true religion demands practical, not speculative, knowledge.

Having said that he would speak of, or meditate upon God’s works (for the Hebrew word אשיחה, asichah, as we have seen elsewhere, can be translated either way), he turns his discourse to others. He suggests that there will always be some in the world to declare the righteousness, goodness, and wisdom of God, and that his divine excellencies are worthy of being proclaimed by every tongue with universal consent.

And, if others should stop and defraud God of the honor due to him, he declares that he himself would at least fulfill his part and, while they were silent, energetically proclaim the praises of God.

Some think that the might of his terrible works is an expression with the same meaning as what has already been stated. However, it seems rather to signify the judgments of God against profane scoffers.