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Psalms 136

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An exhortation to praise God for his mercies particularly enumerated.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Metrical version

Psalm 136

8 7 8 7 iambic

Give thanks to GOD, for good is he:
for mercy hath he ever.
Thanks to the God of gods give ye:
for his grace faileth never.

Thanks give the Lord of lords unto:
for mercy hath he ever.
Who only wonders great can do:
for his grace faileth never.

Who by his wisdom made heav'ns high:
for mercy hath he ever.
Who stretched the earth above the sea:
for his grace faileth never.

To him that made the great lights shine:
for mercy hath he ever.
The sun to rule till day decline:
for his grace faileth never.

The moon and stars to rule by night:
for mercy hath he ever.
Who Egypt's first-born killed outright:
for his grace faileth never.

And Isr'el brought from Egypt land:
for mercy hath he ever.
With stretched-out arm, and with strong hand:
for his grace faileth never.

By whom the Red Sea parted was:
for mercy hath he ever.
And through its midst made Isr'el pass:
for his grace faileth never.

But Pharaoh and his host did drown:
for mercy hath he ever.
Who through the desert led his own:
for his grace faileth never.

To him great kings who overthrew:
for he hath mercy ever.
Yea, famous kings in battle slew:
for his grace faileth never.

Ev'n Sihon king of Amorites:
for he hath mercy ever.
And Og the king of Bashanites:
for his grace faileth never.

Their land in heritage to have:
(for mercy hath he ever).
His servant Isr'el right he gave:
for his grace faileth never.

In our low state who on us thought:
for he hath mercy ever.
And from our foes our freedom wrought:
for his grace faileth never.

Who doth all flesh with food relieve:
for he hath mercy ever.
Thanks to the God of heaven give:
for his grace faileth never.
This psalm contains, (1.) Earnest exhortations to all concerned, to praise the Lord, ver. 1-3, 19-21. (2.) Rich matter for praise - God considered as the God of Israel, ver. 4; as the God of gods, ver. 5; as the God of the whole world, ver. 6-7; as a God terrible to the enemies of Israel, ver. 8-11; but kind to Israel, ver. 12-14; and as the only true and living God, before whom all others are but vanity and falsehood, ver. 15-18.


Come near, my soul, and sing what Jehovah is to, and hath done for his church; and what he is to, and hath done for me.

Psalm 136 (second version)

6 6 6 6 8 8

Praise GOD, for he is kind:
His mercy lasts for aye.
Give thanks with heart and mind
To God of gods alway:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.

The Lord of lords praise ye,
Whose mercies still endure.
Great wonders only he
Doth work by his great power:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.

Which God omnipotent,
By might and wisdom high,
The heav'n and firmament
Did frame, as we may see:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.

To him who did outstretch
This earth so great and wide,
Above the waters' reach
Making it to abide:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.

Great lights he made to be;
For his grace lasteth aye:
Such as the sun we  see,
To rule the lightsome day:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.

Also the moon so clear,
Which shineth in our sight;
The stars that do appear,
To guide the darksome night:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.

To him that Egypt smote,
Who did his message scorn;
And in his anger hot
Did kill all their first-born:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.

Thence Isr'el out he brought;
For his grace lasteth ever.
With a strong hand he wrought,
And stretched-out arm deliver:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.

The sea he cut in two;
For his grace lasteth still.
And through its midst to go
Made his own Israel:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.

But overwhelmed and lost
Was proud king Pharaoh,
With all his mighty host,
And chariots there also:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.

To him who pow'rfully
His chosen people led,
Ev'n through the desert dry,
And in that place them fed:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.

To him great kings who smote;
For his grace hath no bound.
Who slew, and spared not
Kings famous and renowned:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.

Sihon the Am'rites' king;
For his grace lasteth ever:
Og also, who did reign
The land of Bashan over:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.

Their land by lot he gave;
For his grace faileth never,
That Isr'el might it have
In heritage for ever:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.

Who hath remembered
Us in our low estate;
And us delivered
From foes which did us hate:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.

Who to all flesh gives food;
For his grace faileth never.
Give thanks to God most good,
The God of heav'n, for ever:
For certainly his mercies dure
Most firm and sure eternally.
This psalm is a continued exhortation to praise the Lord for the perpetual displays of his mercy. The hearty singing of it has been honoured with the most signal appearances of God's kindness, 2 Chron. 5:13 and 20:21-22. We are in it directed to praise God, (1.) As great and good in himself, ver. 1-4. (2.) As the Creator of all things, ver 5-9. (3.) As the God and Saviour of Israel, who brought them out of Egypt, through the Red sea and wilderness, and who cast out the nations, and gave them the possession of Canaan, ver. 10-22. (4.) As our gracious and condescending Redeemer, ver. 23-24. (5.) As the great and sovereign Benefactor of all creatures, ver. 25-26.


While I sing it, let my heart be melted, and all- inflamed, with the loving-kindness and mercy of God in Christ. Let me behold, believe, and admire the unbounded extent, and everlasting duration thereof.