136 1 A most earnest exhortation to give thanks unto God for the creation and governance of all things, which standeth in confessing that he giveth us all of his mere liberality.

Praise ye the Lord, because he is good: for his [a]mercy endureth forever.

Praise ye the God of gods: for his mercy endureth forever:

Praise ye the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth forever:

Which only doeth great wonders; for his mercy endureth forever:

Which by his wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth forever:

Which hath stretched out the earth upon the waters: for his [b]mercy endureth forever:

Which made great lights: for his mercy endureth forever:

As the Sun to rule the day; for his mercy endureth forever:

The Moon and the stars to govern the night: for his mercy endureth forever:

10 Which smote Egypt with their firstborn, (for his mercy endureth forever)

11 And [c]brought out Israel from among them; for his mercy endureth forever:

12 With a mighty hand and [d]stretched out arm; for his mercy endureth forever:

13 Which divideth the Sea into two parts; for his mercy endureth forever:

14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it; for his mercy endureth forever:

15 And overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the red Sea; for his mercy endureth forever:

16 Which led his people through the [e]wilderness; for his mercy endureth forever:

17 Which smote great Kings: for his mercy endureth forever:

18 And slew [f]mighty Kings: for his mercy endureth forever:

19 As Sihon King of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth forever:

20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth forever:

21 And gave their land for an heritage; for his mercy endureth forever:

22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant; for his mercy endureth forever:

23 Which remembered us in our [g]base estate; for his mercy endureth forever:

24 And hath rescued us from our oppressors; for his mercy endureth forever:

25 Which giveth food to all [h]flesh; for his mercy endureth forever:

26 [i]Praise ye the God of heaven; for his mercy endureth forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 136:1 By this repetition he showeth that the least of God’s benefits bind us to thanksgiving: but chiefly his mercy, which is principally declared towards his Church.
  2. Psalm 136:6 This was a common kind of thanksgiving, which the whole people used, when they had received any benefit of God, as 2 Chron. 7:6 and 20:21, meaning, that God was not only merciful to their fathers, but also continued the same to their posterity.
  3. Psalm 136:11 God’s merciful providence toward man appeareth in all his creatures, but chiefly in that that he delivered his Church from the thraldom of their enemies.
  4. Psalm 136:12 In doing such a work as was never done before, nor that any other could do.
  5. Psalm 136:16 Where for the space of forty years he showed infinite and most strange wonders.
  6. Psalm 136:18 Declaring thereby that no power nor authority was so dear unto him, as the love of his Church.
  7. Psalm 136:23 In our greatest affliction and slavery, when we looked for nothing less than to have had any succor.
  8. Psalm 136:25 Seeing that God provideth even for the beasts, much more hath he care over his.
  9. Psalm 136:26 Seeing that all ages have had most plain testimonies of God’s benefits.

Psalm 136

Give thanks(A) to the Lord, for he is good.(B)
His love endures forever.(C)
Give thanks(D) to the God of gods.(E)
His love endures forever.
Give thanks(F) to the Lord of lords:(G)
His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,(H)
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding(I) made the heavens,(J)
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth(K) upon the waters,(L)
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights(M)
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern(N) the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

10 to him who struck down the firstborn(O) of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out(P) from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand(Q) and outstretched arm;(R)
His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea[a](S) asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through(T) the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;(U)
His love endures forever.

16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;(V)
His love endures forever.

17 to him who struck down great kings,(W)
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings(X)
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites(Y)
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan(Z)
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land(AA) as an inheritance,(AB)
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance(AC) to his servant Israel.(AD)
His love endures forever.

23 He remembered us(AE) in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us(AF) from our enemies.(AG)
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food(AH) to every creature.
His love endures forever.

26 Give thanks(AI) to the God of heaven.(AJ)
His love endures forever.(AK)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 136:13 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 15