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)

Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

I call to you, Lord, come quickly(EP) to me;
    hear me(EQ) when I call to you.
May my prayer be set before you like incense;(ER)
    may the lifting up of my hands(ES) be like the evening sacrifice.(ET)

Set a guard over my mouth,(EU) Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.(EV)
Do not let my heart(EW) be drawn to what is evil
    so that I take part in wicked deeds(EX)
along with those who are evildoers;
    do not let me eat their delicacies.(EY)

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me(EZ)—that is oil on my head.(FA)
My head will not refuse it,
    for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,(FB)
    and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
They will say, “As one plows(FC) and breaks up the earth,(FD)
    so our bones have been scattered at the mouth(FE) of the grave.”

But my eyes are fixed(FF) on you, Sovereign Lord;
    in you I take refuge(FG)—do not give me over to death.
Keep me safe(FH) from the traps set by evildoers,(FI)
    from the snares(FJ) they have laid for me.
10 Let the wicked fall(FK) into their own nets,
    while I pass by in safety.(FL)

Psalm 142[e]

A maskil[f] of David. When he was in the cave.(FM) A prayer.

I cry aloud(FN) to the Lord;
    I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.(FO)
I pour out before him my complaint;(FP)
    before him I tell my trouble.(FQ)

When my spirit grows faint(FR) within me,
    it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
    people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;(FS)
    no one cares(FT) for my life.

I cry to you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,(FU)
    my portion(FV) in the land of the living.”(FW)

Listen to my cry,(FX)
    for I am in desperate need;(FY)
rescue me(FZ) from those who pursue me,
    for they are too strong(GA) for me.
Set me free from my prison,(GB)
    that I may praise your name.(GC)
Then the righteous will gather about me
    because of your goodness to me.(GD)

Psalm 143

A psalm of David.

Lord, hear my prayer,(GE)
    listen to my cry for mercy;(GF)
in your faithfulness(GG) and righteousness(GH)
    come to my relief.
Do not bring your servant into judgment,
    for no one living is righteous(GI) before you.
The enemy pursues me,
    he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness(GJ)
    like those long dead.(GK)
So my spirit grows faint within me;
    my heart within me is dismayed.(GL)
I remember(GM) the days of long ago;
    I meditate(GN) on all your works
    and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands(GO) to you;
    I thirst for you like a parched land.[g]

Answer me quickly,(GP) Lord;
    my spirit fails.(GQ)
Do not hide your face(GR) from me
    or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,(GS)
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way(GT) I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.(GU)
Rescue me(GV) from my enemies,(GW) Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me(GX) to do your will,
    for you are my God;(GY)
may your good Spirit
    lead(GZ) me on level ground.(HA)

11 For your name’s sake,(HB) Lord, preserve my life;(HC)
    in your righteousness,(HD) bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;(HE)
    destroy all my foes,(HF)
    for I am your servant.(HG)

Psalm 144

Of David.

Praise be to the Lord my Rock,(HH)
    who trains my hands for war,
    my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress,(HI)
    my stronghold(HJ) and my deliverer,
my shield,(HK) in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples[h](HL) under me.

Lord, what are human beings(HM) that you care for them,
    mere mortals that you think of them?
They are like a breath;(HN)
    their days are like a fleeting shadow.(HO)

Part your heavens,(HP) Lord, and come down;(HQ)
    touch the mountains, so that they smoke.(HR)
Send forth lightning(HS) and scatter(HT) the enemy;
    shoot your arrows(HU) and rout them.
Reach down your hand from on high;(HV)
    deliver me and rescue me(HW)
from the mighty waters,(HX)
    from the hands of foreigners(HY)
whose mouths are full of lies,(HZ)
    whose right hands(IA) are deceitful.(IB)

I will sing a new song(IC) to you, my God;
    on the ten-stringed lyre(ID) I will make music to you,
10 to the One who gives victory to kings,(IE)
    who delivers his servant David.(IF)

From the deadly sword(IG) 11 deliver me;
    rescue me(IH) from the hands of foreigners(II)
whose mouths are full of lies,(IJ)
    whose right hands are deceitful.(IK)

12 Then our sons in their youth
    will be like well-nurtured plants,(IL)
and our daughters will be like pillars(IM)
    carved to adorn a palace.
13 Our barns will be filled(IN)
    with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
    by tens of thousands in our fields;
14     our oxen(IO) will draw heavy loads.[i]
There will be no breaching of walls,(IP)
    no going into captivity,
    no cry of distress in our streets.(IQ)
15 Blessed is the people(IR) of whom this is true;
    blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.

Psalm 145[j]

A psalm of praise. Of David.

I will exalt you,(IS) my God the King;(IT)
    I will praise your name(IU) for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise(IV) you
    and extol your name(IW) for ever and ever.

Great(IX) is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(IY)
    his greatness no one can fathom.(IZ)
One generation(JA) commends your works to another;
    they tell(JB) of your mighty acts.(JC)
They speak of the glorious splendor(JD) of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[k](JE)
They tell(JF) of the power of your awesome works—(JG)
    and I will proclaim(JH) your great deeds.(JI)
They celebrate your abundant goodness(JJ)
    and joyfully sing(JK) of your righteousness.(JL)

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,(JM)
    slow to anger and rich in love.(JN)

The Lord is good(JO) to all;
    he has compassion(JP) on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you,(JQ) Lord;
    your faithful people extol(JR) you.(JS)
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom(JT)
    and speak of your might,(JU)
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts(JV)
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.(JW)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,(JX)
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy(JY) in all he promises(JZ)
    and faithful in all he does.[l]
14 The Lord upholds(KA) all who fall
    and lifts up all(KB) who are bowed down.(KC)
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food(KD) at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires(KE) of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous(KF) in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.(KG)
18 The Lord is near(KH) to all who call on him,(KI)
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires(KJ) of those who fear him;(KK)
    he hears their cry(KL) and saves them.(KM)
20 The Lord watches over(KN) all who love him,(KO)
    but all the wicked he will destroy.(KP)

21 My mouth will speak(KQ) in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature(KR) praise his holy name(KS)
    for ever and ever.

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.
  5. Psalm 142:1 In Hebrew texts 142:1-7 is numbered 142:2-8.
  6. Psalm 142:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  7. Psalm 143:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  8. Psalm 144:2 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls, Aquila, Jerome and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text subdues my people
  9. Psalm 144:14 Or our chieftains will be firmly established
  10. Psalm 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which (including verse 13b) begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  11. Psalm 145:5 Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text On the glorious splendor of your majesty / and on your wonderful works I will meditate
  12. Psalm 145:13 One manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text do not have the last two lines of verse 13.

So when we could stand it no longer,(A) we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.(B) We sent Timothy,(C) who is our brother and co-worker(D) in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ,(E) to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.(F) For you know quite well that we are destined for them.(G) In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.(H) For this reason, when I could stand it no longer,(I) I sent to find out about your faith.(J) I was afraid that in some way the tempter(K) had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.(L)

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

But Timothy(M) has just now come to us from you(N) and has brought good news about your faith and love.(O) He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.(P) Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm(Q) in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you(R) in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?(S) 10 Night and day we pray(T) most earnestly that we may see you again(U) and supply what is lacking in your faith.

11 Now may our God and Father(V) himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other(W) and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless(X) and holy in the presence of our God and Father(Y) when our Lord Jesus comes(Z) with all his holy ones.(AA)

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