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A Hymn of Praise

135 Praise the Lord!

Praise his name, you servants of the Lord,
    who stand in the Lord's house,
    in the Temple of our God.
Praise the Lord, because he is good;
    sing praises to his name, because he is kind.[a]
He chose Jacob for himself,
    the people of Israel for his own.

I know that our Lord is great,
    greater than all the gods.
He does whatever he wishes
    in heaven and on earth,
    in the seas and in the depths below.
He brings storm clouds from the ends of the earth;
    he makes lightning for the storms,
    and he brings out the wind from his storeroom.

In Egypt he killed all the first-born
    of people and animals alike.
There he performed miracles and wonders
    to punish the king and all his officials.
10 He destroyed many nations
    and killed powerful kings:
11 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
    Og, king of Bashan,
    and all the kings in Canaan.
12 He gave their lands to his people;
    he gave them to Israel.

13 Lord, you will always be proclaimed as God;
    all generations will remember you.
14 The Lord will defend his people;
    he will take pity on his servants.

15 (A)The gods of the nations are made of silver and gold;
    they are formed by human hands.
16 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
    and eyes, but cannot see.
17 They have ears, but cannot hear;
    they are not even able to breathe.
18 May all who made them and who trust in them
    become[b] like the idols they have made!

19 Praise the Lord, people of Israel;
    praise him, you priests of God!
20 Praise the Lord, you Levites;
    praise him, all you that worship him!
21 Praise the Lord in Zion,
    in Jerusalem, his home.

Praise the Lord!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 135:3 he is kind; or it is pleasant to do so.
  2. Psalm 135:18 May all … become; or All who made them and who trust in them will become.

Psalm 135

Praise for God’s Goodness and Might

Praise the Lord!
    Praise the name of the Lord;
    give praise, O servants of the Lord,
you who stand in the house of the Lord,
    in the courts of the house of our God.(A)
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
    sing to his name, for he is gracious.(B)
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
    Israel as his own possession.(C)

For I know that the Lord is great;
    our Lord is above all gods.(D)
Whatever the Lord pleases he does,
    in heaven and on earth,
    in the seas and all deeps.(E)
He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth;
    he makes lightnings for the rain
    and brings out the wind from his storehouses.(F)

He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
    both humans and animals;(G)
he sent signs and wonders
    into your midst, O Egypt,
    against Pharaoh and all his servants.(H)
10 He struck down many nations
    and killed mighty kings—(I)
11 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
    and Og, king of Bashan,
    and all the kingdoms of Canaan—(J)
12 and gave their land as a heritage,
    a heritage to his people Israel.(K)

13 Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
    your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.(L)
14 For the Lord will vindicate his people
    and have compassion on his servants.(M)

15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
    the work of human hands.(N)
16 They have mouths, but they do not speak;
    they have eyes, but they do not see;
17 they have ears, but they do not hear,
    a nose, but there is no breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them
    and all who trust them
    shall become like them.

19 O house of Israel, bless the Lord!
    O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!(O)
20 O house of Levi, bless the Lord!
    You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!(P)
21 Blessed be the Lord from Zion,
    he who resides in Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!(Q)