He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt-offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.’

And he said, ‘O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.

Let the girl to whom I shall say, “Please offer your jar that I may drink”, and who shall say, “Drink, and I will water your camels”—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.’

and said, ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness towards my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the way to the house of my master’s kin.’

Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent. He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

So he went and got them and brought them to his mother; and his mother prepared savoury food, such as his father loved.

Leah’s eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful.

Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, ‘I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.’

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He served Laban for another seven years.

Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben; for she said, ‘Because the Lord has looked on my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.’

I am not worthy of the least of all the steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan; and now I have become two companies.

And his soul was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob; he loved the girl, and spoke tenderly to her.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves.

But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.

But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love; he gave him favour in the sight of the chief jailer.

And we said to my lord, “We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead; he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.”

‘Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears lovely fawns.

‘In your steadfast love you led the people whom you redeemed; you guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

But if the slave declares, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out a free person’,

The Lord passed before him, and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty, but visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.’

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.

The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

“The Lord is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children to the third and the fourth generation.”

Forgive the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have pardoned this people, from Egypt even until now.’

And because he loved your ancestors, he chose their descendants after them. He brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power,

but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

It was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath that he swore to your ancestors, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,

he will love you, bless you, and multiply you; he will bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock, in the land that he swore to your ancestors to give you.

The Essence of the Law

So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

yet the Lord set his heart in love on your ancestors alone and chose you, their descendants after them, out of all the peoples, as it is today.

who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them with food and clothing.

You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Rewards for Obedience

You shall love the Lord your God, therefore, and keep his charge, his decrees, his ordinances, and his commandments always.

you must not heed the words of those prophets or those who divine by dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you indeed love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.

But if he says to you, ‘I will not go out from you’, because he loves you and your household, since he is well off with you,

The Right of the Firstborn

If a man has two wives, one of them loved and the other disliked, and if both the loved and the disliked have borne him sons, the firstborn being the son of the one who is disliked,

then on the day when he wills his possessions to his sons, he is not permitted to treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the disliked, who is the firstborn.

(Yet the Lord your God refused to heed Balaam; the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loved you.)

Moreover, the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live.

Take good care to observe the commandment and instruction that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.’

Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God.

So Samson’s wife wept before him, saying, ‘You hate me; you do not really love me. You have asked a riddle of my people, but you have not explained it to me.’ He said to her, ‘Look, I have not told my father or my mother. Why should I tell you?’

After this he fell in love with a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.

Then she said to him, ‘How can you say, “I love you”, when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me three times now and have not told me what makes your strength so great.’

He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.’

but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.

And David came to Saul, and entered his service. Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armour-bearer.

Jonathan’s Covenant with David

When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

But all Israel and Judah loved David; for it was he who marched out and came in leading them.

Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. Saul was told, and the thing pleased him.

Saul commanded his servants, ‘Speak to David in private and say, “See, the king is delighted with you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king’s son-in-law.”’

But when Saul realized that the Lord was with David, and that Saul’s daughter Michal loved him,

If I am still alive, show me the faithful love of the Lord; but if I die,

never cut off your faithful love from my house, even if the Lord were to cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.’

Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him; for he loved him as he loved his own life.

Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you! And I too will reward you because you have done this thing.

But I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.

Solomon Is Born

Then David consoled his wife Bathsheba, and went to her, and lay with her; and she bore a son, and he named him Solomon. The Lord loved him,

Amnon and Tamar

Some time passed. David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar; and David’s son Amnon fell in love with her.

He said to him, ‘O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?’ Amnon said to him, ‘I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.’

When King David heard of all these things, he became very angry, but he would not punish his son Amnon, because he loved him, for he was his firstborn.

You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, while I go wherever I can? Go back, and take your kinsfolk with you; and may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you.’

for love of those who hate you and for hatred of those who love you. You have made it clear today that commanders and officers are nothing to you; for I perceive that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased.

He is a tower of salvation for his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his descendants for ever.

Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places.

And Solomon said, ‘You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart towards you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today.

He said, ‘O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart,

Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel for ever, he has made you king to execute justice and righteousness.’

Solomon’s Errors

King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women,

from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the Israelites, ‘You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you; for they will surely incline your heart to follow their gods;’ Solomon clung to these in love.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever.

With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to render thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you,

Solomon said to God, ‘You have shown great and steadfast love to my father David, and have made me succeed him as king.

Then King Huram of Tyre answered in a letter that he sent to Solomon, ‘Because the Lord loves his people he has made you king over them.’

it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, ‘For he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever’, the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud,

He said, ‘O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant in steadfast love with your servants who walk before you with all their heart—

O Lord God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember your steadfast love for your servant David.’

When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and worshipped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, ‘For he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever.’

The priests stood at their posts; the Levites also, with the instruments for music to the Lord that King David had made for giving thanks to the Lord—for his steadfast love endures for ever—whenever David offered praises by their ministry. Opposite them the priests sounded trumpets; and all Israel stood.

Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the Lord your God. Because your God loved Israel and wished to establish them for ever, he has made you king over them, so that you may execute justice and righteousness.’

Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his other wives and concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters).

Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, ‘Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord.

When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy splendour, as they went before the army, saying, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures for ever.’

He built towers in the wilderness and hewed out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vine-dressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.

and they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, ‘For he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever towards Israel.’ And all the people responded with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

and who extended to me steadfast love before the king and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

For we are slaves; yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to give us new life to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judea and Jerusalem.

I said, ‘O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments;

they refused to obey, and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them; but they stiffened their necks and determined to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and you did not forsake them.

‘Now therefore, our God—the great and mighty and awesome God, keeping covenant and steadfast love—do not treat lightly all the hardship that has come upon us, upon our kings, our officials, our priests, our prophets, our ancestors, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until today.

And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favour, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.

the king loved Esther more than all the other women; of all the virgins she won his favour and devotion, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.

All my intimate friends abhor me, and those whom I loved have turned against me.

Whether for correction, or for his land, or for love, he causes it to happen.

How long, you people, shall my honour suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?Selah

But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house, I will bow down towards your holy temple in awe of you.

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you.

Turn, O Lord, save my life; deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.

The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, and his soul hates the lover of violence.

For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

Wondrously show your steadfast love, O saviour of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.

Psalm 18

Royal Thanksgiving for Victory

To the leader. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who addressed the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said:

I love you, O Lord, my strength.

Great triumphs he gives to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his descendants for ever.

For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you.

O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides.

I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have taken heed of my adversities,

Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.

Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was beset as a city under siege.

Love the Lord, all you his saints. The Lord preserves the faithful, but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.

Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.

He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,

Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart!

For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his faithful ones. The righteous shall be kept safe for ever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.

Do not, O Lord, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever.

But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, ‘Great is the Lord!’

By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

Rise up, come to our help. Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.

Psalm 45

Ode for a Royal Wedding

To the leader: according to Lilies. Of the Korahites. A Maskil. A love song.

My heart overflows with a goodly theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

you love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;

He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves.Selah

We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.

Psalm 51

Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon

To the leader. A Psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking the truth.Selah

You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God for ever and ever.

He will send from heaven and save me, he will put to shame those who trample on me.Selah God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.

For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the clouds.

My God in his steadfast love will meet me; my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

But I will sing of your might; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been a fortress for me and a refuge on the day of my distress.

O my strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.

Give victory with your right hand, and answer us, so that those whom you love may be rescued.

May he be enthroned for ever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work.

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me.

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me. With your faithful help

Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.

the children of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall live in it.

Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, ‘God is great!’

Has his steadfast love ceased for ever? Are his promises at an end for all time?

but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves.

Psalm 84

The Joy of Worship in the Temple

To the leader: according to The Gittith. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!

Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.

Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.

For great is your steadfast love towards me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon?

Psalm 89

God’s Covenant with David

A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, for ever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.

I declare that your steadfast love is established for ever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him; and in my name his horn shall be exalted.

For-ever I will keep my steadfast love for him, and my covenant with him will stand firm.

but I will not remove from him my steadfast love, or be false to my faithfulness.

Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, which by your faithfulness you swore to David?

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.

to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,

When I thought, ‘My foot is slipping’, your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.

The Lord loves those who hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.

He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him;

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,

Psalm 106

A Confession of Israel’s Sins

Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever.

Our ancestors, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wonderful works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea.

For their sake he remembered his covenant, and showed compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

BOOK V

(Psalms 107–150)

Psalm 107

Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Many Troubles

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever.

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.

Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Give victory with your right hand, and answer me, so that those whom you love may be rescued.

In return for my love they accuse me, even while I make prayer for them.

So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

He loved to curse; let curses come on him. He did not like blessing; may it be far from him.

But you, O Lord my Lord, act on my behalf for your name’s sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me.

Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love.

Psalm 115

The Impotence of Idols and the Greatness of God

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.

Psalm 116

Thanksgiving for Recovery from Illness

I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications.

For great is his steadfast love towards us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 118

A Song of Victory

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!

Let Israel say, ‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’

Let the house of Aaron say, ‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’

Let those who fear the Lord say, ‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise.

I find my delight in your commandments, because I love them.

I revere your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.

The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes.

Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant.

In your steadfast love spare my life, so that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.

Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long.

I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.

All the wicked of the earth you count as dross; therefore I love your decrees.

Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.

Truly I love your commandments more than gold, more than fine gold.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your custom towards those who love your name.

Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.

In your steadfast love hear my voice; O Lord, in your justice preserve my life.

Consider how I love your precepts; preserve my life according to your steadfast love.

I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.

Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.

My soul keeps your decrees; I love them exceedingly.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you.

O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.

Psalm 136

God’s Work in Creation and in History

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

who spread out the earth on the waters, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

who struck Egypt through their firstborn, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

and killed famous kings, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

a heritage to his servant Israel, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

I bow down towards 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.

The Lord will fulfil his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures for ever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

In your steadfast love cut off my enemies, and destroy all my adversaries, for I am your servant.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.

but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

‘How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

for the Lord reproves the one he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.

a lovely deer, a graceful doe. May her breasts satisfy you at all times; may you be intoxicated always by her love.

Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us delight ourselves with love.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

endowing with wealth those who love me, and filling their treasuries.

but those who miss me injure themselves; all who hate me love death.’

A scoffer who is rebuked will only hate you; the wise, when rebuked, will love you.

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offences.

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but those who hate to be rebuked are stupid.

A wise child loves discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Those who spare the rod hate their children, but those who love them are diligent to discipline them.

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.

Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.

Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves those who speak what is right.

A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.

One who loves transgression loves strife; one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

To get wisdom is to love oneself; to keep understanding is to prosper.

Do not love sleep, or else you will come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

Whoever loves pleasure will suffer want; whoever loves wine and oil will not be rich.

Those who love a pure heart and are gracious in speech will have the king as a friend.

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

A child who loves wisdom makes a parent glad, but to keep company with prostitutes is to squander one’s substance.

a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

The lover of money will not be satisfied with money; nor the lover of wealth, with gain. This also is vanity.

Take Life as It Comes

All this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hate one does not know. Everything that confronts them

Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished; never again will they have any share in all that happens under the sun.

Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that are given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.

Colloquy of Bride and Friends

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine,

your anointing oils are fragrant, your name is perfume poured out; therefore the maidens love you.

Draw me after you, let us make haste. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine; rightly do they love you.

Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be like one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions?

Colloquy of Bridegroom, Friends, and Bride

I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.

Ah, you are beautiful, my love; ah, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves.

Ah, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly lovely. Our couch is green;

As a lily among brambles, so is my love among maidens.

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his intention towards me was love.

Sustain me with raisins, refresh me with apples; for I am faint with love.

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the wild does: do not stir up or awaken love until it is ready!

My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away;

The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

A Dream of Love

Upon my bed at night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer.

‘I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares; I will seek him whom my soul loves.’ I sought him, but found him not.

The sentinels found me, as they went about in the city. ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’

Scarcely had I passed them, when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the wild does: do not stir up or awaken love until it is ready!

He made its posts of silver, its back of gold, its seat of purple; its interior was inlaid with love. Daughters of Jerusalem,

The Bride’s Beauty Extolled

How beautiful you are, my love, how very beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats, moving down the slopes of Gilead.

Your lips are like a crimson thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil.

You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.

How sweet is your love, my sister, my bride! how much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice!

I come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I gather my myrrh with my spice, I eat my honeycomb with my honey, I drink my wine with my milk. Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love.

Another Dream

I slept, but my heart was awake. Listen! my beloved is knocking. ‘Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one; for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.’

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, tell him this: I am faint with love.

The Bride’s Matchless Beauty

You are beautiful as Tirzah, my love, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.

How fair and pleasant you are, O loved one, delectable maiden!

let us go out early to the vineyards, and see whether the vines have budded, whether the grape blossoms have opened and the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love.

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not stir up or awaken love until it is ready!

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame.

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If one offered for love all the wealth of one’s house, it would be utterly scorned.

Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not defend the orphan, and the widow’s cause does not come before them.

The Song of the Unfruitful Vineyard

Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.

then a throne shall be established in steadfast love in the tent of David, and on it shall sit in faithfulness a ruler who seeks justice and is swift to do what is right.

Because you are precious in my sight, and honoured, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life.

Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one besides me; I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children’—

Assemble, all of you, and hear! Who among them has declared these things? The Lord loves him; he shall perform his purpose on Babylon, and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans.

In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer.

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant—

Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your symbol; for, in deserting me, you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, you have made it wide; and you have made a bargain for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have gazed on their nakedness.

For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

God’s Mercy Remembered

I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, because of all that the Lord has done for us, and the great favour to the house of Israel that he has shown them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

in all their distress. It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her—

Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the Lord: I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is hopeless, for I have loved strangers, and after them I will go.’

How well you direct your course to seek lovers! So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways.

Unfaithful Israel

If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man’s wife, will he return to her? Would not such a land be greatly polluted? You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to me? says the Lord.

Look up to the bare heights, and see! Where have you not been lain with? By the waysides you have sat waiting for lovers, like a nomad in the wilderness. You have polluted the land with your whoring and wickedness.

And you, O desolate one, what do you mean that you dress in crimson, that you deck yourself with ornaments of gold, that you enlarge your eyes with paint? In vain you beautify yourself. Your lovers despise you; they seek your life.

the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule as the prophets direct; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?

I have likened daughter Zion to the loveliest pasture.

and they shall be spread before the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven, which they have loved and served, which they have followed, and which they have inquired of and worshipped; and they shall not be gathered or buried; they shall be like dung on the surface of the ground.

but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.

Thus says the Lord concerning this people: Truly they have loved to wander, they have not restrained their feet; therefore the Lord does not accept them, now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.

For thus says the Lord: Do not enter the house of mourning, or go to lament, or bemoan them; for I have taken away my peace from this people, says the Lord, my steadfast love and mercy.

Go up to Lebanon, and cry out, and lift up your voice in Bashan; cry out from Abarim, for all your lovers are crushed.

The wind shall shepherd all your shepherds, and your lovers shall go into captivity; then you will be ashamed and dismayed because of all your wickedness.

All your lovers have forgotten you; they care nothing for you; for I have dealt you the blow of an enemy, the punishment of a merciless foe, because your guilt is great, because your sins are so numerous.

the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

You show steadfast love to the thousandth generation, but repay the guilt of parents into the laps of their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name is the Lord of hosts,

the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank-offerings to the house of the Lord: ‘Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever!’ For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the Lord.

She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has no one to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they have become her enemies.

I called to my lovers but they deceived me; my priests and elders perished in the city while seeking food to revive their strength.

God’s Steadfast Love Endures

I am one who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath;

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;

Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love;

I passed by you again and looked on you; you were at the age for love. I spread the edge of my cloak over you, and covered your nakedness: I pledged myself to you and entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord God, and you became mine.

Gifts are given to all whores; but you gave your gifts to all your lovers, bribing them to come to you from all around for your whorings.

Thus says the Lord God, Because your lust was poured out and your nakedness uncovered in your whoring with your lovers, and because of all your abominable idols, and because of the blood of your children that you gave to them,

therefore, I will gather all your lovers, with whom you took pleasure, all those you loved and all those you hated; I will gather them against you from all around, and will uncover your nakedness to them, so that they may see all your nakedness.

Oholah played the whore while she was mine; she lusted after her lovers the Assyrians, warriors

Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, into the hands of the Assyrians, for whom she lusted.

And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their lust; and after she defiled herself with them, she turned from them in disgust.

Therefore, O Oholibah, thus says the Lord God: I will arouse against you your lovers from whom you turned in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side:

To them you are like a singer of love songs, one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; they hear what you say, but they will not do it.

I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, ‘Ah, Lord, great and awesome God, keeping covenant and steadfast love with those who love you and keep your commandments,

For their mother has played the whore; she who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers; they give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.’

She shall pursue her lovers, but not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them. Then she shall say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better with me then than now.’

Now I will uncover her shame in the sight of her lovers, and no one shall rescue her out of my hand.

I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees, of which she said, ‘These are my pay, which my lovers have given me.’ I will make them a forest, and the wild animals shall devour them.

I will punish her for the festival days of the Baals, when she offered incense to them and decked herself with her ring and jewellery, and went after her lovers, and forgot me, says the Lord.

And I will take you for my wife for ever; I will take you for my wife in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy.

Further Assurances of God’s Redeeming Love

The Lord said to me again, ‘Go, love a woman who has a lover and is an adulteress, just as the Lord loves the people of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.’

When their drinking is ended, they indulge in sexual orgies; they love lewdness more than their glory.

Impenitence of Israel and Judah

What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early.

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.

For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild ass wandering alone; Ephraim has bargained for lovers.

Punishment for Israel’s Sin

Do not rejoice, O Israel! Do not exult as other nations do; for you have played the whore, departing from your God. You have loved a prostitute’s pay on all threshing-floors.

Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree, in its first season, I saw your ancestors. But they came to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to a thing of shame, and became detestable like the thing they loved.

Once I saw Ephraim as a young palm planted in a lovely meadow, but now Ephraim must lead out his children for slaughter.

Every evil of theirs began at Gilgal; there I came to hate them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house. I will love them no more; all their officials are rebels.

Ephraim was a trained heifer that loved to thresh, and I spared her fair neck; but I will make Ephraim break the ground; Judah must plough; Jacob must harrow for himself.

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

God’s Compassion Despite Israel’s Ingratitude

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.

But as for you, return to your God, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.

A trader, in whose hands are false balances, he loves to oppress.

Assurance of Forgiveness

I will heal their disloyalty; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.

rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.

bring a thank-offering of leavened bread, and proclaim freewill-offerings, publish them; for so you love to do, O people of Israel! says the Lord God.

Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

He prayed to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.

you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin off my people, and the flesh off their bones;

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Put no trust in a friend, have no confidence in a loved one; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your embrace;

God’s Compassion and Steadfast Love

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession? He does not retain his anger for ever, because he delights in showing clemency.

The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing

do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, says the Lord.

Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be seasons of joy and gladness, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah: therefore love truth and peace.

Israel Preferred to Edom

I have loved you, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have you loved us?’ Is not Esau Jacob’s brother? says the Lord. Yet I have loved Jacob

Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.