Psalm 136
1 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,
for his loving kindness endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his loving kindness endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
8 the sun to rule by day,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule by night,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
10 to him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
11 and brought out Israel from among them,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
12 with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea apart,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
14 and made Israel to pass through the middle of it,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
17 to him who struck great kings,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
19 Sihon king of the Amorites,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
20 Og king of Bashan,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
22 even a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
23 who remembered us in our low estate,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
24 and has delivered us from our adversaries,
for his loving kindness endures forever;
25 who gives food to every creature,
for his loving kindness endures forever.
26 Oh give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his loving kindness endures forever.
Psalm 137
1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down.
Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2 On the willows in that land,
we hung up our harps.
3 For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs.
Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy:
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4 How can we sing Yahweh’s song in a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget its skill.
6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you,
if I don’t prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7 Remember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem,
who said, “Raze it!
Raze it even to its foundation!”
8 Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction,
he will be happy who repays you,
as you have done to us.
9 Happy shall he be,
who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.
Psalm 138
By David.
1 I will give you thanks with my whole heart.
Before the gods,* The word elohim, used here, usually means “God” but can also mean “gods”, “princes”, or “angels”. I will sing praises to you.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple,
and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth;
for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all.
3 In the day that I called, you answered me.
You encouraged me with strength in my soul.
4 All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh,
for they have heard the words of your mouth.
5 Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh,
for Yahweh’s glory is great!
6 For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly;
but he knows the proud from afar.
7 Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me.
You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies.
Your right hand will save me.
8 Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me.
Your loving kindness, Yahweh, endures forever.
Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.
*138:1 The word elohim, used here, usually means “God” but can also mean “gods”, “princes”, or “angels”.
Psalm 139
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
1 Yahweh, you have searched me,
and you know me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up.
You perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
but behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in behind and before.
You laid your hand on me.
6 This knowledge is beyond me.
It’s lofty.
I can’t attain it.
7 Where could I go from your Spirit?
Or where could I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there.
If I make my bed in Sheol,* Sheol is the place of the dead. behold, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the dawn,
and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand will lead me,
and your right hand will hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me.
The light around me will be night,”
12 even the darkness doesn’t hide from you,
but the night shines as the day.
The darkness is like light to you.
13 For you formed my inmost being.
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to you,
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful.
My soul knows that very well.
15 My frame wasn’t hidden from you,
when I was made in secret,
woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my body.
In your book they were all written,
the days that were ordained for me,
when as yet there were none of them.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is their sum!
18 If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand.
When I wake up, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would kill the wicked.
Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 For they speak against you wickedly.
Your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you?
Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred.
They have become my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart.
Try me, and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalm 140
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
1 Deliver me, Yahweh, from evil men.
Preserve me from violent men:
2 those who devise mischief in their hearts.
They continually gather themselves together for war.
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent.
Viper’s poison is under their lips.
Selah.
4 Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked.
Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.
5 The proud have hidden a snare for me,
they have spread the cords of a net by the path.
They have set traps for me.
Selah.
6 I said to Yahweh, “You are my God.”
Listen to the cry of my petitions, Yahweh.
7 Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Yahweh, don’t grant the desires of the wicked.
Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud.
Selah.
9 As for the head of those who surround me,
let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall on them.
Let them be thrown into the fire,
into miry pits, from where they never rise.
11 An evil speaker won’t be established in the earth.
Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12 I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and justice for the needy.
13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name.
The upright will dwell in your presence.