Font Size
Psalm 136-138
Common English Bible
Psalm 136-138
Common English Bible
Psalm 136
136 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good.
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
2 Give thanks to the God of all gods—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of all lords—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
4 Give thanks to the only one
who makes great wonders—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
5 Give thanks to the one who made the skies with skill—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
6 Give thanks to the one who shaped the earth on the water—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
7 Give thanks to the one who made the great lights—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
8 The sun to rule the day—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
9 The moon and the stars to rule the night—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
10 Give thanks to the one who struck down the Egyptians’ oldest offspring—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
11 Give thanks to the one who brought Israel out of there—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
12 With a strong hand and outstretched arm—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
13 Give thanks to the one who split the Reed Sea[a] in two—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
14 Give thanks to the one who brought Israel through—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
15 And tossed Pharaoh and his army into the Reed Sea—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
16 Give thanks to the one who led his people through the desert—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
17 Give thanks to the one who struck down great kings—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
18 And killed powerful kings—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
19 Sihon, the Amorite king—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
20 Og, king of Bashan—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
21 Handing their land over as an inheritance—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
22 As an inheritance to Israel, his servant—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
23 God remembered us when we were humiliated—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
24 God rescued us from our enemies—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
25 God is the one who provides food for all living things—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
Psalm 137
137 Alongside Babylon’s streams,
there we sat down,
crying because we remembered Zion.
2 We hung our lyres up
in the trees there
3 because that’s where our captors asked us to sing;
our tormentors requested songs of joy:
“Sing us a song about Zion!” they said.
4 But how could we possibly sing
the Lord’s song on foreign soil?
5 Jerusalem! If I forget you,
let my strong hand wither!
6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth
if I don’t remember you,
if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy.
7 Lord, remember what the Edomites did
on Jerusalem’s dark day:
“Rip it down, rip it down!
All the way to its foundations!” they yelled.
8 Daughter Babylon, you destroyer,[b]
a blessing on the one who pays you back
the very deed you did to us!
9 A blessing on the one who seizes your children
and smashes them against the rock!
Psalm 138
Of David.
138 I give thanks to you with all my heart, Lord.[c]
I sing your praise before all other gods.
2 I bow toward your holy temple
and thank your name
for your loyal love and faithfulness
because you have made your name and word
greater than everything else.[d]
3 On the day I cried out, you answered me.
You encouraged me with inner strength.[e]
4 Let all the earth’s rulers give thanks to you, Lord,
when they hear what you say.
5 Let them sing about the Lord’s ways
because the Lord’s glory is so great!
6 Even though the Lord is high,
he can still see the lowly,
but God keeps his distance from the arrogant.
7 Whenever I am in deep trouble,
you make me live again;
you send your power against my enemies’ wrath;
you save me with your strong hand.
8 The Lord will do all this for my sake.
Your faithful love lasts forever, Lord!
Don’t let go of what your hands
have made.
Footnotes
- Psalm 136:13 Or Red Sea; also in 136:15
- Psalm 137:8 Sym, Tg, Syr; MT the devastated
- Psalm 138:1 LXX, Syr, Tg, DSS (11QPsa); MT lacks Lord.
- Psalm 138:2 Correction; Heb uncertain
- Psalm 138:3 Heb uncertain
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
Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.