Psalm 136

God’s Love Is Eternal

Warning against Rejecting God’s Grace

¹⁴ Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness^(A)—without it no one will see the Lord.^{(B) 15} Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.^{(C) 16} And make sure that there isn’t any immoral^[a] or irreverent^(D) person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal.^{(E) 17} For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.^(F)

¹⁸ For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, ¹⁹ to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, ²⁰ for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.^{[b](G) 21} The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear.^{[c](H) 22} Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering,^{(I) 23} to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written^[d] in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect,^{(J) 24} and to Jesus, the mediator^(K) of a new covenant,^(L) and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.^(M)

²⁵ See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven.^{(N) 26} His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.^{[e](O) 27} This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken^(P)—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. ²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,^{(Q) 29} for our God is a consuming fire.^(R)

Warning against Idolatry

¹⁴ So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵ I am speaking as to sensible people. Judge for yourselves what I am saying. ¹⁶ The cup^(A) of blessing^(B) that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread^(C) that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Because there is one bread, we who are many are one^(D) body, since all of us share the one bread. ¹⁸ Consider the people of Israel.^[a] Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?^{(E) 19} What am I saying then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? ²⁰ No, but I do say that what they^[b] sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons! ²¹ You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons. ²² Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?^(F)