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Thanks for Jehovah’s goodness to Israel.

136 Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever.
Oh give thanks unto the God of gods;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever.
Oh give thanks unto the Lord of lords;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
To him who alone doeth great wonders;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
To him that by understanding made the heavens;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
To him that spread forth the earth above the waters;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
To him that made great lights;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
The sun to rule by day;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;
The moon and stars to rule by night;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
10 To him that smote Egypt in their first-born;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;
11 And brought out Israel from among them;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;
12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
13 To him that divided the Red Sea in sunder;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;
14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;
15 But [a]overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
16 To him that led his people through the wilderness;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
17 To him that smote great kings;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;
18 And slew famous kings;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
19 Sihon king of the Amorites;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;
20 And Og king of Bashan;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;
21 And gave their land for a heritage;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;
22 Even a heritage unto Israel his servant;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
23 Who remembered us in our low estate;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;
24 And hath delivered us from our adversaries;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
25 Who giveth food to all flesh;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever.
26 Oh give thanks unto the God of heaven;
For his lovingkindness endureth for ever.

Sorrows of the exiles in Babylon.

137 By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down, yea, we wept,
When we remembered Zion.
Upon the willows in the midst thereof
We hanged up our harps.
For there they that led us captive required of us [b]songs,
And [c]they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying,
Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
How shall we sing Jehovah’s song
In a foreign land?
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem,
Let my right hand forget her skill.
Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth,
If I remember thee not;
If I prefer not Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.
Remember, O Jehovah, against the children of Edom
The day of Jerusalem;
Who said, Rase it, rase it,
Even to the foundation thereof.
O daughter of Babylon, [d]that art to be destroyed,
Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee
As thou hast served us.
Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones
Against the rock.

Thanksgiving for Jehovah’s favor.

A Psalm of David.

138 I will give thee thanks with my whole heart:
Before the gods will I sing praises unto thee.
I will worship toward thy holy temple,
And give thanks unto thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth:
For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
In the day that I called thou answeredst me,
Thou didst encourage me with strength in my soul.
All the kings of the earth shall give thee thanks, O Jehovah,
For they have heard the words of thy mouth.
Yea, they shall sing of the ways of Jehovah;
For great is the glory of Jehovah.
For though Jehovah is high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly;
But the haughty he knoweth from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me;
Thou wilt stretch forth thy hand against the wrath of mine enemies,
And thy right hand will save me.
Jehovah will perfect that which concerneth me:
Thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, endureth for ever;
Forsake not the works of thine own hands.

God’s omnipresence and omniscience.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

139 O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising;
Thou understandest my thought afar off.
Thou [e]searchest out my path and my lying down,
And art acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word in my tongue,
But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.
Thou hast beset me behind and before,
And laid thy hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Whither shall I go from thy Spirit?
Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me,
And thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall [f]overwhelm me,
[g]And the light about me shall be night;
12 Even the darkness hideth not from thee,
But the night shineth as the day:
The darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou didst form my [h]inward parts:
Thou didst [i]cover me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
Wonderful are thy works;
And that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My frame was not hidden from thee,
When I was made in secret,
And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance;
And in thy book they were all written,
Even the days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:
When I awake, I am still with thee.
19 [j]Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God:
Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.
20 For they [k]speak against thee wickedly,
And thine enemies [l]take thy name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee?
And [m]am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred:
They are become mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart:
Try me, and know my thoughts;
24 And see if there be any [n]wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

Prayer for protection against persecutors.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

140 Deliver me, O Jehovah, from the evil man;
Preserve me from the violent man:
Who devise mischiefs in their heart;
Continually do they [o]gather themselves together for war.
They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent;
Adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah
Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked;
Preserve me from the violent man:
Who have purposed to thrust aside my steps.
The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords;
They have spread a net by the wayside;
They have set gins for me. Selah
I said unto Jehovah, Thou art my God:
Give ear unto the voice of my supplications, O Jehovah.
O Jehovah the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
Grant not, O Jehovah, the desires of the wicked;
Further not his evil device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah
As for the head of those that compass me about,
Let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall upon them:
Let them be cast into the fire,
Into [p]deep pits, whence they shall not rise.
11 [q]An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth:
Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12 I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
And justice for the needy.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name:
The upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 136:15 Hebrew shook off.
  2. Psalm 137:3 Hebrew words of song.
  3. Psalm 137:3 Or, our tormentors
  4. Psalm 137:8 Or, that art laid waste
  5. Psalm 139:3 Or, winnowest
  6. Psalm 139:11 Or, cover
  7. Psalm 139:11 Or, Then the night shall be light about me
  8. Psalm 139:13 Hebrew reins.
  9. Psalm 139:13 Or, knit me together
  10. Psalm 139:19 Or, Oh that thou wouldest slay
  11. Psalm 139:20 Or, utter thy name (Hebrew thee). Or, as otherwise read, rebel against thee
  12. Psalm 139:20 Or, lift themselves up against thee for vanity
  13. Psalm 139:21 Or, do not I loathe
  14. Psalm 139:24 Or, way of pain
  15. Psalm 140:2 Or, stir up wars
  16. Psalm 140:10 Or, floods
  17. Psalm 140:11 Hebrew A man of tongue.

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)

Psalm 137

By the rivers of Babylon(AL) we sat and wept(AM)
    when we remembered Zion.(AN)
There on the poplars(AO)
    we hung our harps,(AP)
for there our captors(AQ) asked us for songs,
    our tormentors demanded(AR) songs of joy;
    they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”(AS)

How can we sing the songs of the Lord(AT)
    while in a foreign land?
If I forget you,(AU) Jerusalem,
    may my right hand forget its skill.
May my tongue cling to the roof(AV) of my mouth
    if I do not remember(AW) you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem(AX)
    my highest joy.

Remember, Lord, what the Edomites(AY) did
    on the day Jerusalem fell.(AZ)
“Tear it down,” they cried,
    “tear it down to its foundations!”(BA)
Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,(BB)
    happy is the one who repays you
    according to what you have done to us.
Happy is the one who seizes your infants
    and dashes them(BC) against the rocks.

Psalm 138

Of David.

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    before the “gods”(BD) I will sing(BE) your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple(BF)
    and will praise your name(BG)
    for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,(BH)
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
    that it surpasses your fame.(BI)
When I called,(BJ) you answered me;(BK)
    you greatly emboldened(BL) me.

May all the kings of the earth(BM) praise you, Lord,
    when they hear what you have decreed.
May they sing(BN) of the ways of the Lord,
    for the glory of the Lord(BO) is great.

Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;(BP)
    though lofty, he sees them(BQ) from afar.
Though I walk(BR) in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.(BS)
You stretch out your hand(BT) against the anger of my foes;(BU)
    with your right hand(BV) you save me.(BW)
The Lord will vindicate(BX) me;
    your love, Lord, endures forever(BY)
    do not abandon(BZ) the works of your hands.(CA)

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

You have searched me,(CB) Lord,
    and you know(CC) me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;(CD)
    you perceive my thoughts(CE) from afar.
You discern my going out(CF) and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.(CG)
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.(CH)
You hem me in(CI) behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,(CJ)
    too lofty(CK) for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee(CL) from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens,(CM) you are there;
    if I make my bed(CN) in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,(CO)
    your right hand(CP) will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark(CQ) to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;(CR)
    you knit me together(CS) in my mother’s womb.(CT)
14 I praise you(CU) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,(CV)
    I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made(CW) in the secret place,
    when I was woven together(CX) in the depths of the earth.(CY)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained(CZ) for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[b](DA) God!(DB)
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,(DC)
    they would outnumber the grains of sand(DD)
    when I awake,(DE) I am still with you.

19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!(DF)
    Away from me,(DG) you who are bloodthirsty!(DH)
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries(DI) misuse your name.(DJ)
21 Do I not hate those(DK) who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor(DL) those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.(DM)
23 Search me,(DN) God, and know my heart;(DO)
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way(DP) in me,
    and lead me(DQ) in the way everlasting.

Psalm 140[c]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Rescue me,(DR) Lord, from evildoers;
    protect me from the violent,(DS)
who devise evil plans(DT) in their hearts
    and stir up war(DU) every day.
They make their tongues as sharp as(DV) a serpent’s;
    the poison of vipers(DW) is on their lips.[d]

Keep me safe,(DX) Lord, from the hands of the wicked;(DY)
    protect me from the violent,
    who devise ways to trip my feet.
The arrogant have hidden a snare(DZ) for me;
    they have spread out the cords of their net(EA)
    and have set traps(EB) for me along my path.

I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”(EC)
    Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.(ED)
Sovereign Lord,(EE) my strong deliverer,
    you shield my head in the day of battle.
Do not grant the wicked(EF) their desires, Lord;
    do not let their plans succeed.

Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;
    may the mischief of their lips engulf them.(EG)
10 May burning coals fall on them;
    may they be thrown into the fire,(EH)
    into miry pits, never to rise.
11 May slanderers not be established in the land;
    may disaster hunt down the violent.(EI)

12 I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor(EJ)
    and upholds the cause(EK) of the needy.(EL)
13 Surely the righteous will praise your name,(EM)
    and the upright will live(EN) in your presence.(EO)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 136:13 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 15
  2. Psalm 139:17 Or How amazing are your thoughts concerning me
  3. Psalm 140:1 In Hebrew texts 140:1-13 is numbered 140:2-14.
  4. Psalm 140:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 8.