Psalms — Chapter 136

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1O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

3O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

4To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

5To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

6To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

7To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:

8The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

9The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

10To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:

11And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:

12With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

13To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:

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

15But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

16To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.

17To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

18And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

19Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:

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

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

22Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.

23Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

24And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

25Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

26O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

1Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.

2Oh give thanks unto the God of gods; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.

3Oh give thanks unto the Lord of lords; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

4To him who alone doeth great wonders; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

5To him that by understanding made the heavens; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

6To him that spread forth the earth above the waters; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

7To him that made great lights; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

8The sun to rule by day; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

9The moon and stars to rule by night; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

10To him that smote Egypt in their first-born; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

11And brought out Israel from among them; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

12With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

13To him that divided the Red Sea in sunder; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

14And made Israel to pass through the midst of it; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

15But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

16To him that led his people through the wilderness; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

17To him that smote great kings; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

18And slew famous kings; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

19Sihon king of the Amorites; For his lovingkindness [endureth] forever;

20And Og king of Bashan; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

21And gave their land for a heritage; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

22Even a heritage unto Israel his servant; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

23Who remembered us in our low estate; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

24And hath delivered us from our adversaries; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

25Who giveth food to all flesh; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.

26Oh give thanks unto the God of heaven; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever. Psalm 137

1Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his loyal love endures.

2Give thanks to the God of gods, for his loyal love endures.

3Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his loyal love endures.

4To the one who performs magnificent, amazing deeds all by himself, for his loyal love endures.

5To the one who used wisdom to make the heavens, for his loyal love endures.

6To the one who spread out the earth over the water, for his loyal love endures.

7To the one who made the great lights, for his loyal love endures,

8the sun to rule by day, for his loyal love endures,

9the moon and stars to rule by night, for his loyal love endures.

10To the one who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his loyal love endures,

11and led Israel out from their midst, for his loyal love endures,

12with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his loyal love endures.

13To the one who divided the Red Sea in two, for his loyal love endures,

14and led Israel through its midst, for his loyal love endures,

15and tossed Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, for his loyal love endures.

16To the one who led his people through the wilderness, for his loyal love endures.

17To the one who struck down great kings, for his loyal love endures,

18and killed powerful kings, for his loyal love endures,

19Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his loyal love endures,

20Og, king of Bashan, for his loyal love endures,

21and gave their land as an inheritance, for his loyal love endures,

22as an inheritance to Israel his servant, for his loyal love endures.

23To the one who remembered us when we were down, for his loyal love endures,

24and snatched us away from our enemies, for his loyal love endures.

25To the one who gives food to all living things, for his loyal love endures.

26Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his loyal love endures!

1Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever.

2Give thanks to the God of gods; for his loving kindness endures forever.

3Give thanks to the Lord of lords; for his loving kindness endures forever:

4To him who alone does great wonders; for his loving kindness endures forever:

5To him who by understanding made the heavens; for his loving kindness endures forever:

6To him who spread out the earth above the waters; for his loving kindness endures forever:

7To him who made the great lights; for his loving kindness endures forever:

8The sun to rule by day; for his loving kindness endures forever;

9The moon and stars to rule by night; for his loving kindness endures forever:

10To him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn; for his loving kindness endures forever;

11And brought out Israel from among them; for his loving kindness endures forever;

12With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm; for his loving kindness endures forever:

13To him who divided the Red Sea apart; for his loving kindness endures forever;

14And made Israel to pass through the middle of it; for his loving kindness endures forever;

15But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea; for his loving kindness endures forever:

16To him who led his people through the wilderness; for his loving kindness endures forever:

17To him who struck great kings; for his loving kindness endures forever;

18And killed mighty kings; for his loving kindness endures forever:

19Sihon king of the Amorites; for his loving kindness endures forever;

20Og king of Bashan; for his loving kindness endures forever;

21And gave their land as an inheritance; for his loving kindness endures forever;

22Even a heritage to Israel his servant; for his loving kindness endures forever:

23Who remembered us in our low estate; for his loving kindness endures forever;

24And has delivered us from our adversaries; for his loving kindness endures forever:

25Who gives food to every creature; for his loving kindness endures forever.

26Oh give thanks to the God of heaven; for his loving kindness endures forever.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Videos
Reflection

Summary

The Great Hallel — a litany of thanksgiving with the refrain 'for his mercy endureth for ever' repeated in all 26 verses, recounting creation, the Exodus, wilderness provision, and the conquest.

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses. Key themes: worship, lament, praise, trust, kingship, creation, wisdom, Messianic prophecy, and the full range of human emotion brought before God.
Classification: Historical Hymn / Responsive Liturgical Psalm (The Great Hallel) Attributed Author: Anonymous (known as "The Great Hallel" in Jewish tradition) Key Themes: God's mercy (hesed) enduring forever — repeated 26 times, God as Creator, God as Redeemer from Egypt, God as Provider, the connection between mercy and every divine act
Historical Context: Psalm 136 is unique in the Psalter — every single verse (all 26) ends with the same refrain: "for his mercy endureth for ever" (Hebrew: "ki le-olam hasdo"). This was sung antiphonally: a leader sang the first half, and the congregation responded with the refrain. It was sung at temple dedications (2 Chr 7:3), before battles (2 Chr 20:21), and at Passover. Known in Jewish tradition as "The Great Hallel," it surveys all of salvation history — creation (vv.4-9), Exodus (vv.10-22), and ongoing providence (vv.23-25) — declaring that God's hesed (covenant love/mercy) underlies EVERY act. The relentless repetition is not laziness but theology: mercy is not occasional but CONSTANT in everything God does.
Structure:
  • Call to Thanksgiving (vv.1-3)
  • God's Mercy in Creation (vv.4-9)
  • God's Mercy in the Exodus (vv.10-22)
  • God's Mercy in Providence (vv.23-26)

Map & Geography

  • Egypt (v.10): Land to the southwest; place of Israel's bondage and exodus.
  • Red Sea (v.13, v.15): Body of water Israel crossed during the Exodus.
  • Bashan (v.20): Fertile region east of the Sea of Galilee.

Videos

The Bible Project — Psalms Overview

Reflection

  • 1. His mercy is in EVERYTHING (all 26 verses). Creation — mercy. Judgment on Egypt — mercy. Wilderness leading — mercy. Daily food — mercy. There is no act of God that is divorced from His hesed. Look for mercy in everything He does.
  • 2. Repetition is not laziness but emphasis. Saying it once is a statement. Saying it 26 times is a conviction, a theology, a worldview. Let "His mercy endures forever" become your refrain — the lens through which you see everything.
  • 3. Even in "low estate" — mercy (v.23). Your lowest point is not outside God's mercy. He REMEMBERS you there. Low estate is where mercy meets you.
  • 4. Sing this psalm antiphonally. This psalm was meant to be ANSWERED — leader and congregation. Find someone and practice responsive worship: they sing God's acts, you respond with "His mercy endures forever."
  • 5. All flesh receives His provision (v.25). God's mercy is not exclusive. He feeds everyone. Common grace flows to all creation from His everlasting love.