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Psalm 136[a]

Hymn of Thanksgiving for God’s Everlasting Mercy

I

Praise the Lord, for he is good;(A)
    for his mercy endures forever;
Praise the God of gods;
    for his mercy endures forever;
Praise the Lord of lords;
    for his mercy endures forever;

II

Who alone has done great wonders,(B)
    for his mercy endures forever;
Who skillfully made the heavens,(C)
    for his mercy endures forever;
Who spread the earth upon the waters,(D)
    for his mercy endures forever;
Who made the great lights,
    for his mercy endures forever;
The sun to rule the day,
    for his mercy endures forever;
The moon and stars to rule the night,(E)
    for his mercy endures forever;

III

10 Who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,(F)
    for his mercy endures forever;
11 And led Israel from their midst,
    for his mercy endures forever;
12 With mighty hand and outstretched arm,(G)
    for his mercy endures forever;
13 Who split in two the Red Sea,
    for his mercy endures forever;
14 And led Israel through its midst,
    for his mercy endures forever;
15 But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea,(H)
    for his mercy endures forever;
16 Who led the people through the desert,(I)
    for his mercy endures forever;

IV

17 Who struck down great kings,(J)
    for his mercy endures forever;
18 Slew powerful kings,
    for his mercy endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
    for his mercy endures forever;
20 Og, king of Bashan,
    for his mercy endures forever;
21 And made their lands a heritage,
    for his mercy endures forever;
22 [b]A heritage for Israel, his servant,
    for his mercy endures forever.

V

23 The Lord remembered us in our low estate,
    for his mercy endures forever;
24 Freed us from our foes,
    for his mercy endures forever;
25 And gives bread to all flesh,
    for his mercy endures forever.

VI

26 Praise the God of heaven,
    for his mercy endures forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 136 The hymn praises Israel’s God (“the God of gods,” Ps 136:2), who has created the world in which Israel lives. The refrain occurring after every line suggests that a speaker and chorus sang the Psalm in antiphonal fashion. A single act of God is described in Ps 136:4–25. God arranges the heavens and the earth as the environment for human community, and then creates the community by freeing them and giving them land. In the final section (Ps 136:23–25) God, who created the people and gave them land, continues to protect and nurture them.
  2. 136:22 A heritage for Israel: the land was given to Israel by God to be handed on to future generations.

Psalm 136

Give thanks(A) to the Lord, for he is good.(B)
His love endures forever.(C)
Give thanks(D) to the God of gods.(E)
His love endures forever.
Give thanks(F) to the Lord of lords:(G)
His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,(H)
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding(I) made the heavens,(J)
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth(K) upon the waters,(L)
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights(M)
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern(N) the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

10 to him who struck down the firstborn(O) of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out(P) from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand(Q) and outstretched arm;(R)
His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea[a](S) asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through(T) the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;(U)
His love endures forever.

16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;(V)
His love endures forever.

17 to him who struck down great kings,(W)
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings(X)
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites(Y)
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan(Z)
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land(AA) as an inheritance,(AB)
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance(AC) to his servant Israel.(AD)
His love endures forever.

23 He remembered us(AE) in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us(AF) from our enemies.(AG)
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food(AH) to every creature.
His love endures forever.

26 Give thanks(AI) to the God of heaven.(AJ)
His love endures forever.(AK)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 136:13 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 15