Psalm 136
New English Translation
Psalm 136[a]
136 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his loyal love endures.[b]
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his loyal love endures.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his loyal love endures,
4 to the one who performs magnificent, amazing deeds all by himself,
for his loyal love endures,
5 to the one who used wisdom to make the heavens,
for his loyal love endures,
6 to the one who spread out the earth over the water,
for his loyal love endures,
7 to the one who made the great lights,
for his loyal love endures,
8 the sun to rule by day,
for his loyal love endures,
9 the moon and stars to rule by night,
for his loyal love endures,
10 to the one who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his loyal love endures,
11 and led Israel out from their midst,
for his loyal love endures,
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his loyal love endures,
13 to the one who divided[c] the Red Sea[d] in two,[e]
for his loyal love endures,
14 and led Israel through its midst,
for his loyal love endures,
15 and tossed[f] Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea,
for his loyal love endures,
16 to the one who led his people through the wilderness,
for his loyal love endures,
17 to the one who struck down great kings,
for his loyal love endures,
18 and killed powerful kings,
for his loyal love endures,
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his loyal love endures,
20 Og, king of Bashan,
for his loyal love endures,
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
for his loyal love endures,
22 as an inheritance to Israel his servant,
for his loyal love endures,
23 to the one who remembered us when we were down,[g]
for his loyal love endures,
24 and snatched us away from our enemies,
for his loyal love endures,
25 to the one who gives food to all living things,[h]
for his loyal love endures.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his loyal love endures!
Footnotes
- Psalm 136:1 sn Psalm 136. In this hymn the psalmist affirms that God is praiseworthy because of his enduring loyal love, sovereign authority, and compassion. Each verse of the psalm concludes with the refrain “for his loyal love endures.”
- Psalm 136:1 tn Or “is forever.”
- Psalm 136:13 tn Or “cut.”
- Psalm 136:13 tn Heb “Reed Sea” (also in v. 15). “Reed Sea” (or “Sea of Reeds”) is a more accurate rendering of the Hebrew expression יָם סוּף (yam suf), traditionally translated “Red Sea.” See the note on the term “Red Sea” in Exod 13:18.
- Psalm 136:13 tn Heb “into pieces.”
- Psalm 136:15 tn Or “shook off.”
- Psalm 136:23 tn Heb “who, in our low condition, remembered us.”
- Psalm 136:25 tn Heb “to all flesh,” which can refer to all people (see Pss 65:2; 145:21) or more broadly to mankind and animals. Elsewhere the psalms view God as the provider for all living things (see Pss 104:27-28; 145:15).
Psalm 136
Common English Bible
Psalm 136
136 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good.
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
2 Give thanks to the God of all gods—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of all lords—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
4 Give thanks to the only one
who makes great wonders—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
5 Give thanks to the one who made the skies with skill—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
6 Give thanks to the one who shaped the earth on the water—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
7 Give thanks to the one who made the great lights—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
8 The sun to rule the day—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
9 The moon and the stars to rule the night—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
10 Give thanks to the one who struck down the Egyptians’ oldest offspring—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
11 Give thanks to the one who brought Israel out of there—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
12 With a strong hand and outstretched arm—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
13 Give thanks to the one who split the Reed Sea[a] in two—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
14 Give thanks to the one who brought Israel through—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
15 And tossed Pharaoh and his army into the Reed Sea—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
16 Give thanks to the one who led his people through the desert—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
17 Give thanks to the one who struck down great kings—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
18 And killed powerful kings—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
19 Sihon, the Amorite king—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
20 Og, king of Bashan—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
21 Handing their land over as an inheritance—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
22 As an inheritance to Israel, his servant—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
23 God remembered us when we were humiliated—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
24 God rescued us from our enemies—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
25 God is the one who provides food for all living things—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
Footnotes
- Psalm 136:13 Or Red Sea; also in 136:15
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