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Psalm 136-138
Contemporary English Version
Psalm 136-138
Contemporary English Version
God's Love Never Fails
1 (A) Praise the Lord! He is good.
God's love never fails.
2 Praise the God of all gods.
God's love never fails.
3 Praise the Lord of lords.
God's love never fails.
4 Only 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.
8 He lets the sun rule each day.
God's love never fails.
9 He 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.
12 God 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.
14 The Lord brought Israel safely
through the sea.
God's love never fails.
15 He destroyed the Egyptian king
and his army there.
God's love never fails.
16 The Lord led his people
through the desert.
God's love never fails.
17 Our God defeated mighty kings.
God's love never fails.
18 And 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.
21 God took away their land.
God's love never fails.
22 He gave their land to Israel,
the people who serve him.
God's love never fails.
23 God saw the trouble we were in.
God's love never fails.
24 He rescued us from our enemies.
God's love never fails.
25 He gives food to all who live.
God's love never fails.
26 Praise God in heaven!
God's love never fails.
A Prayer for Revenge
1 Beside the rivers of Babylon
we thought about Jerusalem,
and we sat down and cried.
2 We hung our small harps
on the willow[c] trees.
3 Our 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!”
4 Here in a foreign land,
how can we sing
about the Lord?
5 Jerusalem, if I forget you,
let my right hand go limp.
6 Let my tongue stick
to the roof of my mouth,
if I don't think about you
above all else.
7 Our 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.
9 May the Lord bless everyone
who beats your children
against the rocks!
(By David.)
Praise the Lord with All Your Heart
1 With all my heart
I praise you, Lord.
In the presence of angels[d]
I sing your praises.
2 I 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]
3 When I asked for your help,
you answered my prayer
and gave me courage.[f]
4 All kings on this earth
have heard your promises, Lord,
and they will praise you.
5 You are so famous
that they will sing about
the things you have done.
6 Though you are above us all,
you care for humble people,
and you keep a close watch
on everyone who is proud.
7 I am surrounded by trouble,
but you protect me
against my angry enemies.
With your own powerful arm
you keep me safe.
8 You, 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.”
Psalm 136-138
New International Version
Psalm 136-138
New International Version
Psalm 136
1 Give thanks(A) to the Lord, for he is good.(B)
His love endures forever.(C)
2 Give thanks(D) to the God of gods.(E)
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks(F) to the Lord of lords:(G)
His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders,(H)
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding(I) made the heavens,(J)
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth(K) upon the waters,(L)
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights(M)—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern(N) the day,
His love endures forever.
9 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.
Psalm 137
1 By the rivers of Babylon(AL) we sat and wept(AM)
when we remembered Zion.(AN)
2 There on the poplars(AO)
we hung our harps,(AP)
3 for there our captors(AQ) asked us for songs,
our tormentors demanded(AR) songs of joy;
they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”(AS)
4 How can we sing the songs of the Lord(AT)
while in a foreign land?
5 If I forget you,(AU) Jerusalem,
may my right hand forget its skill.
6 May my tongue cling to the roof(AV) of my mouth
if I do not remember(AW) you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem(AX)
my highest joy.
7 Remember, Lord, what the Edomites(AY) did
on the day Jerusalem fell.(AZ)
“Tear it down,” they cried,
“tear it down to its foundations!”(BA)
8 Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,(BB)
happy is the one who repays you
according to what you have done to us.
9 Happy is the one who seizes your infants
and dashes them(BC) against the rocks.
Psalm 138
Of David.
1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
before the “gods”(BD) I will sing(BE) your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple(BF)
and will praise your name(BG)
for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,(BH)
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
that it surpasses your fame.(BI)
3 When I called,(BJ) you answered me;(BK)
you greatly emboldened(BL) me.
4 May all the kings of the earth(BM) praise you, Lord,
when they hear what you have decreed.
5 May they sing(BN) of the ways of the Lord,
for the glory of the Lord(BO) is great.
6 Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;(BP)
though lofty, he sees them(BQ) from afar.
7 Though I walk(BR) in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.(BS)
You stretch out your hand(BT) against the anger of my foes;(BU)
with your right hand(BV) you save me.(BW)
8 The Lord will vindicate(BX) me;
your love, Lord, endures forever(BY)—
do not abandon(BZ) the works of your hands.(CA)
Footnotes
- Psalm 136:13 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 15
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.