As Your Name So Your Praise to the Ends of the Earth

"Now these are the names of the children of Israel" (Exodus 1:1). This is what Scripture says: "As Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth" etc. (Psalms 48:11). A king of flesh and blood enters a province, and they praise him as being mighty, when he is in fact weak; they praise him as being merciful, when he is in fact cruel; they praise him as being handsome, when he is in fact ugly. They praise him with many such things. But the Holy One, blessed be He, is not so. Rather, whoever praises Him, He is greater than His praise. How so? They praise Him as being mighty, and He is mighty, as it is said: "The great, the mighty, and the awesome God" (Deuteronomy 10:17). They praise Him as being handsome, and He is handsome, as it is said: "My beloved is white and ruddy" (Song of Songs 5:10). They praise Him as being merciful, and He is merciful, as it is said: "For the Lord your God is a merciful God" etc. (Deuteronomy 4:31). Thus: "As Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth." Rabbi Judah the Levite son of Rabbi Shalom said: See what is written: "Awesome in praises, doing wonders" (Exodus 15:11). Huna the Priest son of Abin said: What is "awesome in praises"? God is awesome above all Your praises. Thus, "awesome in praises." Rabbi Simon said: See what David said: "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the might" etc. (I Chronicles 29:11). Your name is exalted as head over all — the greatness for which we praise You.