136 Give thanks to Adonai, for he is good,
for his grace continues forever.
² Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his grace continues forever.
³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his grace continues forever;

⁴ to him who alone has done great wonders,
for his grace continues forever;
⁵ to him who skillfully made the heavens,
for his grace continues forever;
⁶ to him who spread out the earth on the water,
for his grace continues forever;
⁷ to him who made the great lights,
for his grace continues forever;
⁸ the sun to rule the day,
for his grace continues forever;
⁹ the moon and stars to rule the night,
for his grace continues forever;

¹⁰ to him who struck down Egypt’s firstborn,
for his grace continues forever;
¹¹ and brought Isra’el out from among them,
for his grace continues forever;
¹² with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,
for his grace continues forever;

¹³ to him who split apart the Sea of Suf,
for his grace continues forever;
¹⁴ and made Isra’el cross right through it,
for his grace continues forever;
¹⁵ but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Sea of Suf,
for his grace continues forever;

¹⁶ to him who led his people through the desert,
for his grace continues forever;
¹⁷ to him who struck down great kings,
for his grace continues forever;
¹⁸ yes, he slaughtered powerful kings,
for his grace continues forever;
¹⁹ Sichon king of the Emori,
for his grace continues forever;
²⁰ and ‘Og king of Bashan,
for his grace continues forever;

²¹ then he gave their land as a heritage,
for his grace continues forever;
²² to be possessed by Isra’el his servant,
for his grace continues forever;

²³ who remembers us whenever we are brought low,
for his grace continues forever;
²⁴ and rescues us from our enemies,
for his grace continues forever;

²⁵ who provides food for every living creature,
for his grace continues forever.

²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his grace continues forever.
137 By the rivers of Bavel we sat down and wept
as we remembered Tziyon.
² We had hung up our lyres
on the willows that were there,
³ when those who had taken us captive
asked us to sing them a song;
our tormentors demanded joy from us —
“Sing us one of the songs from Tziyon!”

⁴ How can we sing a song about Adonai
here on foreign soil?
⁵ If I forget you, Yerushalayim,
may my right hand wither away!
⁶ May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth
if I fail to remember you,
if I fail to count Yerushalayim
the greatest of all my joys.

⁷ Remember, Adonai, against the people of Edom
the day of Yerushalayim’s fall,
how they cried, “Tear it down! Tear it down!
Raze it to the ground!”

⁸ Daughter of Bavel, you will be destroyed!
A blessing on anyone who pays you back
for the way you treated us!
⁹ A blessing on anyone who seizes your babies
and smashes them against a rock!

138 ⁽⁰⁾ By David:

⁽¹⁾ I give you thanks with all my heart.
Not to idols, but to you I sing praise.
² I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your grace and truth;
    for you have made your word [even] greater
    than the whole of your reputation.
³ When I called, you answered me,
you made me bold and strong.

⁴ All the kings of the earth will thank you, Adonai,
when they hear the words you have spoken.
⁵ They will sing about Adonai’s ways,
“Great is the glory of Adonai!”
⁶ For though Adonai is high, he cares for the lowly;
while the proud he perceives from afar.

⁷ You keep me alive when surrounded by danger;
you put out your hand when my enemies rage;
with your right hand you save me.
⁸ Adonai will fulfill his purpose for me.
Your grace, Adonai, continues forever.
Don’t abandon the work of your hands!