Psalm 136:1-3
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Psalm 136[a]
Hymn of Thanksgiving for God’s Everlasting Mercy
I
1 Praise the Lord, for he is good;(A)
for his mercy endures forever;
2 Praise the God of gods;
for his mercy endures forever;
3 Praise the Lord of lords;
for his mercy endures forever;
Footnotes
- 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.
Psalm 136:16-18
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
16 Who led the people through the desert,(A)
for his mercy endures forever;
IV
17 Who struck down great kings,(B)
for his mercy endures forever;
18 Slew powerful kings,
for his mercy endures forever;
Psalm 136:21-22
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
21 And made their lands a heritage,
for his mercy endures forever;
22 [a]A heritage for Israel, his servant,
for his mercy endures forever.
Footnotes
- 136:22 A heritage for Israel: the land was given to Israel by God to be handed on to future generations.
Psalm 136:24
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
24 Freed us from our foes,
for his mercy endures forever;
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.