> [[psalm-135|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-137|Next →]]
---
# Psalm 136
## Hymn of Thanksgiving for God’s Everlasting Mercy
### I
1 Praise the LORD, for he is good;
for his mercy endures forever;
2 Praise the God of gods;
for his mercy endures forever;
3 Praise the Lord of lords;
for his mercy endures forever;
### II
4 Who alone has done great wonders,
for his mercy endures forever;
5 Who skillfully made the heavens,
for his mercy endures forever;
6 Who spread the earth upon the waters,
for his mercy endures forever;
7 Who made the great lights,
for his mercy endures forever;
8 The sun to rule the day,
for his mercy endures forever;
9 The moon and stars to rule the night,
for his mercy endures forever;
### III
10 Who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his mercy endures forever;
11 And led Israel from their midst,
for his mercy endures forever;
12 With mighty hand and outstretched arm,
for his mercy endures forever;
13 Who split in two the Red Sea,
for his mercy endures forever;
14 And led Israel through its midst,
for his mercy endures forever;
15 But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea,
for his mercy endures forever;
16 Who led the people through the desert,
for his mercy endures forever;
### IV
17 Who struck down great kings,
for his mercy endures forever;
18 Slew powerful kings,
for his mercy endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his mercy endures forever;
20 Og, king of Bashan,
for his mercy endures forever;
21 And made their lands a heritage,
for his mercy endures forever;
22 A heritage for Israel, his servant,
for his mercy endures forever.
### V
23 The Lord remembered us in our low estate,
for his mercy endures forever;
24 Freed us from our foes,
for his mercy endures forever;
25 And gives bread to all flesh,
for his mercy endures forever.
### VI
26 Praise the God of heaven,
for his mercy endures forever.
\* (Psalm 136) The hymn praises Israel’s God (“the God of gods,” [Ps 136:2]), who has created the world in which Israel lives. The refrain occurring after every line suggests that a speaker and chorus sang the Psalm in antiphonal fashion. A single act of God is described in [Ps 136:4] – [25]. God arranges the heavens and the earth as the environment for human community, and then creates the community by freeing them and giving them land. In the final section ([Ps 136:23] – [25]) God, who created the people and gave them land, continues to protect and nurture them.
\* (136:22) A heritage for Israel: the land was given to Israel by God to be handed on to future generations.
a. (136:1) [Ps 100:5]; [118:1].
b. (136:4) [Ps 72:18].
c. (136:5) [Gn 1:9] – [19].
d. (136:6) ([[psalm-24|Ps 24]]:2].
e. (136:9) [Jer 31:35].
f. (136:10) ([[exodus-12|Ex 12]]:29], [51]; [14:22], [27]; [15:22]; [Ps 78:51] – [52]; [135:8].
g. (136:12) [Dt 4:34].
h. (136:15) ([[exodus-14|Ex 14]]:21f].
i. (136:16) [Dt 8:2], [15].
j. (136:17] – [22) [Ps 135:10] – [12].
---
_New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C.
> [[psalm-135|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-137|Next →]]