Psalm 136-138
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 136
God’s Work in Creation and in History
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.(A)
2 O give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.(B)
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;(C)
5 who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;(D)
6 who spread out the earth on the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;(E)
7 who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;(F)
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;(G)
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 who struck Egypt through their firstborn,
for his steadfast love endures forever;(H)
11 and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;(I)
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;(J)
13 who divided the Red Sea[a] in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;(K)
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;(L)
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,[b]
for his steadfast love endures forever;(M)
16 who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;(N)
who made water flow from the rock,
for his steadfast love endures forever;[c]
17 who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;(O)
18 and killed famous kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;(P)
22 a heritage to his servant Israel,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;(Q)
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;(R)
25 who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.(S)
26 O give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 137
Lament over the Destruction of Jerusalem
1 By the rivers of Babylon—
there we sat down, and there we wept
when we remembered Zion.(T)
2 On the willows[d] there
we hung up our harps.
3 For there our captors
asked us for songs,
and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying,
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”(U)
4 How could we sing the Lord’s song
in a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand wither!
6 Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth,
if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem
above my highest joy.(V)
7 Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites
the day of Jerusalem’s fall,
how they said, “Tear it down! Tear it down!
Down to its foundations!”(W)
8 O daughter Babylon, you devastator![e]
Happy shall they be who pay you back
what you have done to us!(X)
9 Happy shall they be who take your little ones
and dash them against the rock!(Y)
Psalm 138
Thanksgiving and Praise
Of David.
1 I give you thanks, O Lord,[f] with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;(Z)
2 I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted your name and your word
above everything.[g](AA)
3 On the day I called, you answered me;
you increased my strength of soul.[h](AB)
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,
for they have heard the words of your mouth.(AC)
5 They shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he perceives from far away.(AD)
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
you stretch out your hand,
and your right hand delivers me.(AE)
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.(AF)
Footnotes
- 136.13 Or Sea of Reeds
- 136.15 Or Sea of Reeds
- 136.16 Gk: Heb lacks who made water . . . forever
- 137.2 Or poplars
- 137.8 Or you who are devastated
- 138.1 Q mss Gk: MT lacks O Lord
- 138.2 Cn: Heb you have exalted your word above all your name
- 138.3 Syr Compare Gk Tg: Heb you made me arrogant in my soul with strength
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.