Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the Lord: for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods; for his mercy endures for ever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever.

4 To him who along has wrought great wonders: for his mercy endures for ever.

5 To him who made the heavens by understanding; for his mercy endures for ever.

6 To him who established the earth on the waters; for his mercy endures for ever.

7 To him who alone made great lights; for his mercy endures for ever.

8 The sun to rule by day; for his mercy endures for ever.

9 The moon and the stars to rule the night; for his mercy endures for ever.

10 To him who smote Egypt with their first-born; for his mercy endures for ever.

11 And brought Israel out of the midst of them; for his mercy endures for ever:

12 with a strong hand, and a high arm: for his mercy endures for ever.

13 To him who divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endures for ever:

14 and brought Israel through the midst of it: for his mercy endures for ever:

15 and overthrew Pharao and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endures for ever.

16 To him who led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endures for ever.

17 To him who smote great kings: for his mercy endures for ever:

18 and slew mighty kings; for his mercy endures for ever:

19 Seon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endures for ever:

20 and Og king of Basan: for his mercy endures for ever:

21 and gave their land for an inheritance: for his mercy endures for ever:

22 even an inheritance to Israel his servant: for his mercy endures for ever.

23 For the Lord remembered us in our low estate; for his mercy endures for ever:

24 and redeemed us from our enemies; for his mercy endures for ever.

25 Who gives food to all flesh; for his mercy endures for ever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven; for his mercy endures for ever.

Psalm 136 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 136

This psalm was very probably composed by David, and given to the Levites to sing every day, 1Ch 16:41. Solomon his son followed his example, and made use of them in singing at the dedication of the temple, 2Ch 7:3,6; as Jehoshaphat seems to have done when he went out to war against his enemies, 2Ch 20:21. The subject of it is much the same with the preceding psalm; its composition is very singular; the half of every verse: in it is, "for his mercy endureth for ever"; this is the burden of the song; and the design of it is to show, that all blessings of every kind flow from the grace, goodness, and mercy of God, which is constant and perpetual; and to impress a sense of it upon the minds of men: the inscription of the Syriac version is,

``it is said of Moses and Israel praising the Lord for those who were delivered; and concerning the deliverance of souls out of hell from Pharaoh, the devil, by Christ our Saviour, the Redeemer of them.''

R. Obadiah says it is an exhortation to the children of God in the days of the Messiah to praise the Lord.