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A Song of Thanks

136 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. Give thanks to Him Who alone does great works, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. Give thanks to Him Who by wisdom made the heavens, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. Give thanks to Him Who spread out the earth upon the waters, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. Give thanks to Him Who made the great lights, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. He made the sun to rule during the day, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. He made the moon and stars to rule during the night, for His loving-kindness lasts forever.

10 Give thanks to Him Who killed the first-born of Egypt, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. 11 He brought Israel out from among them, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. 12 He put out His arm and brought them out with a strong hand, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. 13 Give thanks to Him Who divided the Red Sea in two, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. 14 He led Israel through, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. 15 But He caused the death of Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. 16 Give thanks to Him Who led His people through the desert, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. 17 Give thanks to Him Who destroyed great kings, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. 18 He killed powerful kings, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. 19 He put to death Sihon, king of the Amorites, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. 20 He put to death Og, king of Bashan, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. 21 He gave their land as a gift, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. 22 He gave it as a gift to Israel His servant, for His loving-kindness lasts forever.

23 Give thanks to Him Who remembered us when we had nothing, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. 24 He took us away from those who hated us, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. 25 He gives food to all men, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His loving-kindness lasts forever.

Israel in a Strange Land

137 We sat down and cried by the rivers of Babylon when we remembered Zion. There upon the trees we put our harps. For those who held us there made us sing. And those who made it hard for us asked for joy. They said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”

How can we sing the song of the Lord in a strange land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget what it is able to do. May my tongue hold to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not honor Jerusalem above my highest joy.

O Lord, remember what the sons of Edom did on the day Jerusalem fell. “Knock it down,” they said, “Knock it down to the ground.” O daughter of Babylon, you who will be destroyed, how honored will be the one who pays you back for what you have done to us! How honored will be the one who catches your children and throws them against the rock!

A Song of Praise

138 I will give You thanks with all my heart. I will sing praises to You in front of the gods. I will bow down toward Your holy house. And I will give thanks to Your name for Your loving-kindness and Your truth. For You have honored Your Word because of what Your name is. You answered me on the day I called. You gave me strength in my soul.

O Lord, all the kings of the earth will give thanks to You when they have heard the words of Your mouth. And they will sing of the ways of the Lord. For the shining beauty of the Lord is great. For even if the Lord is honored, He thinks about those who have no pride. But He knows the proud from far away. Even if I walk into trouble, You will keep my life safe. You will put out Your hand against the anger of those who hate me. And Your right hand will save me. The Lord will finish the work He started for me. O Lord, Your loving-kindness lasts forever. Do not turn away from the works of Your hands.