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The Lord's special love[a]

136 Thank the Lord, because he is good!
    His faithful love will always continue.
Thank God, who rules all gods.
    His faithful love will always continue.
Thank the Lord who rules all lords.
    His faithful love will always continue.

4-9 The Lord himself does great miracles.
He was wise when he made the skies.
He put the earth across the water of the seas.
He made the great lights to shine in the sky.
He made the sun to rule over the day.
He made the moon and the stars to rule the night.
So thank the Lord!
    His faithful love will always continue.[b]

10-16 The Lord destroyed the firstborn sons in Egypt.
He brought the Israelites out from among the Egyptians.
He did this with his great power and strength.
He cut the Red Sea into two separate parts.
He led the Israelites through the middle of the sea.
He threw Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea to drown.
The Lord led his people through the wilderness.
So thank the Lord!
    His faithful love will always continue.[c]

17-22 The Lord destroyed great kings.
Yes, he killed powerful kings.
He killed Sihon, king of the Amorites.
He killed Og, the king of Bashan.
He gave their land to his people, the Israelites.
He gave it to them as their own land.
So thank the Lord!
    His faithful love will always continue.[d]

23-25 The Lord thought about us when we were upset.
He saved us from the power of our enemies.
He gives food to everything that lives.
So thank the Lord!
    His faithful love will always continue.[e]
26 Yes, thank the God of heaven!
    His faithful love will always continue.

Footnotes

  1. 136:1 In this psalm, one group sings some words and another group answers them. One group tells something that is true about God, the Lord. The other people repeat these words: ‘His special love will always continue.’ Everything that God does for his people helps us to know that his love is very special.
  2. 136:4-9 These verses tell us how God made all things. So we need to thank him.
  3. 136:10-16 These verses tell us how God made his people become free from the power of the Egyptians. They had been slaves in Egypt, but God did many miracles to bring them out from there. Pharaoh was the name for Egypt's king. God took care of his people, so we need to thank him.
  4. 136:17-22 These verses tell us how God led his people into the land of Canaan that he had promised to give to them. God made his promise become true, so we need to thank him.
  5. 136:23-25 God helps his people and he gives them the things that they need. So we need to thank him.

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