Psalm 136-138

Contemporary English Version

God's Love Never Fails

¹^(A) Praise the Lord! He is good.
    God's love never fails.
²Praise the God of all gods.
    God's love never fails.
³Praise the Lord of lords.
    God's love never fails.

⁴Only God works great miracles.^[a]
    God's love never fails.
⁵^(B) With wisdom he made the sky.
    God's love never fails.
⁶^(C) The Lord stretched the earth
over the ocean.
    God's love never fails.
⁷^(D) He made the bright lights
in the sky.
    God's love never fails.
⁸He lets the sun rule each day.
    God's love never fails.
⁹He lets the moon and the stars
rule each night.
    God's love never fails.

¹⁰^(E) God struck down the first-born
in every Egyptian family.
    God's love never fails.
¹¹^(F) He rescued Israel from Egypt.
    God's love never fails.
¹²God used his great strength
and his powerful arm.
    God's love never fails.
¹³^(G) He split the Red Sea^[b] apart.
    God's love never fails.

¹⁴The Lord brought Israel safely
through the sea.
    God's love never fails.
¹⁵He destroyed the Egyptian king
and his army there.
    God's love never fails.
¹⁶The Lord led his people
through the desert.
    God's love never fails.

¹⁷Our God defeated mighty kings.
    God's love never fails.
¹⁸And he killed famous kings.
    God's love never fails.
¹⁹^(H) One of them was Sihon,
king of the Amorites.
    God's love never fails.
²⁰^(I) Another was King Og of Bashan.
    God's love never fails.
²¹God took away their land.
    God's love never fails.
²²He gave their land to Israel,
the people who serve him.
    God's love never fails.

²³God saw the trouble we were in.
    God's love never fails.
²⁴He rescued us from our enemies.
    God's love never fails.
²⁵He gives food to all who live.
    God's love never fails.

²⁶Praise God in heaven!
God's love never fails.

A Prayer for Revenge

¹Beside the rivers of Babylon
we thought about Jerusalem,
    and we sat down and cried.
²We hung our small harps
    on the willow^[c] trees.
³Our enemies had brought us here
    as their prisoners;
now they wanted us to sing
    and entertain them.
They insulted us and shouted,
    “Sing about Zion!”

⁴Here in a foreign land,
how can we sing
    about the Lord?
⁵Jerusalem, if I forget you,
    let my right hand go limp.
⁶Let my tongue stick
    to the roof of my mouth,
if I don't think about you
    above all else.

⁷Our Lord, punish the Edomites!
On the day Jerusalem fell,
they shouted,
“Completely destroy the city!
Tear down every building!”

⁸^(J) Babylon, you are doomed!
    I pray the Lord's blessings
on anyone who punishes you
    for what you did to us.
⁹May the Lord bless everyone
who beats your children
    against the rocks!

(By David.)

Praise the Lord with All Your Heart

¹With all my heart
    I praise you, Lord.
In the presence of angels^[d]
    I sing your praises.
²I worship at your holy temple
and praise you for your love
    and your faithfulness.
You were true to your word
and made yourself more famous
    than ever before.^[e]
³When I asked for your help,
you answered my prayer
    and gave me courage.^[f]

⁴All kings on this earth
have heard your promises, Lord,
    and they will praise you.
⁵You are so famous
that they will sing about
    the things you have done.
⁶Though you are above us all,
    you care for humble people,
and you keep a close watch
    on everyone who is proud.

⁷I am surrounded by trouble,
but you protect me
against my angry enemies.
With your own powerful arm
you keep me safe.

⁸You, Lord, will always
treat me with kindness.
Your love never fails.
You have made us what we are.
Don't give up on us now!^[g]

Footnotes

136.4 great miracles: One Hebrew manuscript and one ancient translation have “miracles.”
136.13 Red Sea: See the note at 106.7.
137.2 willow: Or “poplar.”
138.1 angels: Or “gods” or “supernatural beings” who worship and serve God in heaven; or possibly “rulers” or “leaders.”
138.2 You were … before: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
138.3 and gave me courage: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
138.8 You have … now: Or “Please don't desert your people.”