Psalm 135

A Call to Praise the Lord from Zion

1Praise the Lord!

Praise the name of the Lord!

Praise him, you who serve the Lord,

2you who serve in the house of the Lord,

in the courts of the house of our God.

3Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;

celebrate his lovely name with music.

4For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,

Israel for his own special treasure.

5I know the greatness of the Lord—

that our Lord is greater than any other god.

6The Lord does whatever pleases him

throughout all heaven and earth,

and on the seas and in their depths.

7He causes the clouds to rise over the whole earth.

He sends the lightning with the rain

and releases the wind from his storehouses.

8He destroyed the firstborn in each Egyptian home,

both people and animals.

9He performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt

against Pharaoh and all his people.

10He struck down great nations

and slaughtered mighty kings—

11Sihon king of the Amorites,

Og king of Bashan,

and all the kings of Canaan.

12He gave their land as an inheritance,

a special possession to his people Israel.

13Your name, O Lord, endures forever;

your fame, O Lord, is known to every generation.

14For the Lord will give justice to his people

and have compassion on his servants.

15The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold,

shaped by human hands.

16They have mouths but cannot speak,

and eyes but cannot see.

17They have ears but cannot hear,

and mouths but cannot breathe.

18And those who make idols are just like them,

as are all who trust in them.

19O Israel, praise the Lord!

O priests—descendants of Aaron—praise the Lord!

20O Levites, praise the Lord!

All you who fear the Lord, praise the Lord!

21The Lord be praised from Zion,

for he lives here in Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 136

God’s Faithful Love Endures Forever

1Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!

His faithful love endures forever.

2Give thanks to the God of gods.

His faithful love endures forever.

3Give thanks to the Lord of lords.

His faithful love endures forever.

4Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.

His faithful love endures forever.

5Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.

His faithful love endures forever.

6Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.

His faithful love endures forever.

7Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—

His faithful love endures forever.

8the sun to rule the day,

His faithful love endures forever.

9and the moon and stars to rule the night.

His faithful love endures forever.

10Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt.

His faithful love endures forever.

11He brought Israel out of Egypt.

His faithful love endures forever.

12He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm.

His faithful love endures forever.

13Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea.*136:13 Hebrew sea of reeds; also in 136:15.

His faithful love endures forever.

14He led Israel safely through,

His faithful love endures forever.

15but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.

His faithful love endures forever.

16Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness.

His faithful love endures forever.

17Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings.

His faithful love endures forever.

18He killed powerful kings—

His faithful love endures forever.

19Sihon king of the Amorites,

His faithful love endures forever.

20and Og king of Bashan.

His faithful love endures forever.

21God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance—

His faithful love endures forever.

22a special possession to his servant Israel.

His faithful love endures forever.

23He remembered us in our weakness.

His faithful love endures forever.

24He saved us from our enemies.

His faithful love endures forever.

25He gives food to every living thing.

His faithful love endures forever.

26Give thanks to the God of heaven.

His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 137

A Lament of the Exiles in Babylon

1Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept

as we thought of Jerusalem.*137:1 Hebrew Zion; also in 137:3.

2We put away our harps,

hanging them on the branches of poplar trees.

3For our captors demanded a song from us.

Our tormentors insisted on a joyful hymn:

“Sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!”

4But how can we sing the songs of the Lord

while in a pagan land?

5If I forget you, O Jerusalem,

let my right hand forget how to play the harp.

6May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth

if I fail to remember you,

if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy.

7O Lord, remember what the Edomites did

on the day the armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem.

“Destroy it!” they yelled.

“Level it to the ground!”

8O Babylon, you will be destroyed.

Happy is the one who pays you back

for what you have done to us.

9Happy is the one who takes your babies

and smashes them against the rocks!

Teth

65You have done many good things for me, Lord,

just as you promised.

66I believe in your commands;

now teach me good judgment and knowledge.

67I used to wander off until you disciplined me;

but now I closely follow your word.

68You are good and do only good;

teach me your decrees.

69Arrogant people smear me with lies,

but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.

70Their hearts are dull and stupid,

but I delight in your instructions.

71My suffering was good for me,

for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.

72Your instructions are more valuable to me

than millions in gold and silver.