Psalm 136 is the 136th psalm of the

Book of Psalms The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived f ...

, beginning in English in the

King James Version The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version, is an Bible translations into English, English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and publis ...

: "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. ". The Book of Psalms is part of the

third section The Third Section of His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery (russian: Tretiye Otdeleniye, or ''III otdeleniye sobstvennoy E.I.V. kantselyarii'' - in full: Третье отделение Собственной Его Императорского В ...

of the

Hebrew Bible The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''. Hebrew: ''Tān ...

, and a book of the

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

Old Testament The Old Testament (often abbreviated OT) is the first division of the Christian biblical canon, which is based primarily upon the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, a collection of ancient religious Hebrew writings by the Israelites. The ...

. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek

Septuagint The Greek Old Testament, or Septuagint (, ; from the la, septuaginta, lit=seventy; often abbreviated ''70''; in Roman numerals, LXX), is the earliest extant Greek translation of books from the Hebrew Bible. It includes several books beyond th ...

and Latin

Vulgate The Vulgate (; also called (Bible in common tongue), ) is a late-4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. The Vulgate is largely the work of Jerome who, in 382, had been commissioned by Pope Damasus I to revise the Gospels u ...

translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 135. In Latin, it is known by the

incipit The incipit () of a text is the first few words of the text, employed as an identifying label. In a musical composition, an incipit is an initial sequence of notes, having the same purpose. The word ''incipit'' comes from Latin and means "it beg ...

, "". It is sometimes referred to as "The Great

Hallel Hallel ( he, הַלֵּל, "Praise") is a Jewish prayer, a verbatim recitation from Psalms which is recited by observant Jews on Jewish holidays as an act of praise and thanksgiving. Holy days Hallel consists of six Psalms (113–118), which ...

". The

Jerusalem Bible ''The Jerusalem Bible'' (JB or TJB) is an English translation of the Bible published in 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd. As a Catholic Bible, it includes 73 books: the 39 books shared with the Hebrew Bible, along with the seven deuterocanonica ...

calls it a "Litany of Thanksgiving". It is notable for the refrain which forms the second half of each verse,Kirkpatrick, A.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
on Psalm 136, accessed 22 June 2022 translated as "For His mercy endures forever" in the New King James Version, or "for his steadfast love endures for ever" in the

Revised Standard Version The Revised Standard Version (RSV) is an English translation of the Bible published in 1952 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. This translation itself is a revision of the Ameri ...

. Psalm 136 is used in both Jewish and Christian liturgies. It has been paraphrased in hymns, and was set to music.

Text

Hebrew Bible version

The following is the Hebrew text of Psalm 136:

King James Version

# O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. # O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. # O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. # To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. # To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. # To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. # To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: # The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: # The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. # To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: # And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: # With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. # To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: # And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: # But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. # To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. # To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: # And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: # Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever: # And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever: # And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever: # Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever. # Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: # And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. # Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. # O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Structure

The psalm is arranged in well marked groups of three verses to the end of verse 18, after which follow two groups of four verses.

Uses

Judaism

The term Great

(), meaning "great praise", is used to refer to Psalm 136. It is called "great" to differentiate it from the

Egyptian Hallel Hallel ( he, הַלֵּל, "Praise") is a List of Jewish prayers and blessings, Jewish prayer, a verbatim recitation from Psalms which is recited by observant Jews on Jewish holidays as an act of praise and thanksgiving. Holy days Hallel consi ...

, another prayer of praise comprising psalms 113 to 118. In the Talmud, opinions vary whether Great Hallel includes only Psalm 136, or else chapters 135-136, or else chapters 134-136; the accepted opinion is that it only includes 136. * The Hebrew text of the

Book of Ecclesiasticus The Book of Sirach () or Ecclesiasticus (; abbreviated Ecclus.) is a Jewish work, originally in Hebrew, of ethical teachings, from approximately 200 to 175 BC, written by the Judahite scribe Ben Sira of Jerusalem, on the inspiration of his f ...

contains a hymn of thanksgiving inserted after Ecclesiasticus 51:12 which is "an obvious imitation" of this psalm, see in the

New American Bible Revised Edition The New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) is an English-language Catholic translation of the Bible, the first major update in 20 years to the New American Bible (NAB), which was translated by members of the Catholic Biblical Association an ...

. * This psalm is recited in its entirety during the Pesukei Dezimra on

Shabbat Shabbat (, , or ; he, שַׁבָּת, Šabbāṯ, , ) or the Sabbath (), also called Shabbos (, ) by Ashkenazim, is Judaism's day of rest on the seventh day of the week—i.e., Saturday. On this day, religious Jews remember the biblical storie ...

Yom Tov Jewish holidays, also known as Jewish festivals or ''Yamim Tovim'' ( he, ימים טובים, , Good Days, or singular , in transliterated Hebrew []), are holidays observed in Judaism and by JewsThis article focuses on practices of mainstre ...

, and - in many communities - on Hoshana Rabbah. It is also recited towards the end of the Hallel section of the

Passover seder The Passover Seder (; he, סדר פסח , 'Passover order/arrangement'; yi, סדר ) is a ritual feast at the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover. It is conducted throughout the world on the eve of the 15th day of Nisan in the Hebrew c ...

. * It is recited on the eighth day of

Passover Passover, also called Pesach (; ), is a major Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday that celebrates the The Exodus, Biblical story of the Israelites escape from slavery in Ancient Egypt, Egypt, which occurs on the 15th day of the Hebrew calendar, He ...

in some traditions. * Verse 1 is part of the final paragraph of Birkat Hamazon. * Verse 4 is recited when opening the

Hakafot Hakafot (הקפות plural); Hakafah (הקפה singular)—meaning " ocircle" or "going around" in Hebrew—are a Jewish ''minhag'' (tradition) in which people walk or dance around a specific object, generally in a religious setting. In Judaism, ...

Simchat Torah Simchat Torah or Simhat Torah (, lit., "Rejoicing with/of the Torah", Ashkenazi: ''Simchas Torah'') is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simch ...

. * Verse 6 is recited in ''Rokah Ha'aertz Al Hamayim'' of

Birkat HaShachar Birkot hashachar or Birkot haShachar ( he, ברכות השחר, , morning blessings' or 'blessings fthe dawn) are a series of blessings that are recited at the beginning of Jewish morning services. The blessings represent thanks to God for a r ...

. * Verse 7 is part of

Likel Barukh ''Shema Yisrael'' (''Shema Israel'' or ''Sh'ma Yisrael''; he , שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ''Šəmaʿ Yīsrāʾēl'', "Hear, O Israel") is a Jewish prayer (known as the Shema) that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewis ...

in Blessings before the Shema. * Verse 25 is part of the opening paragraph of

Birkat Hamazon Birkat Hamazon ( he, בִּרְכַּת הַמָּזוׂן, The Blessing of the Food), known in English as the Grace After Meals ( yi, ; translit. ''bentschen'' or "to bless", Yinglish: Bentsching), is a set of Hebrew blessings that Jewish ...

. Verse 1, :''

hey Hey or Hey! may refer to: Music * Hey (band), a Polish rock band Albums * ''Hey'' (Andreas Bourani album) or the title song (see below), 2014 * ''Hey!'' (Julio Iglesias album) or the title song, 1980 * ''Hey!'' (Jullie album) or the title s ...

worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,'' :''"For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever"'' was recited at

Solomon Solomon (; , ),, ; ar, سُلَيْمَان, ', , ; el, Σολομών, ; la, Salomon also called Jedidiah (Hebrew language, Hebrew: , Modern Hebrew, Modern: , Tiberian Hebrew, Tiberian: ''Yăḏīḏăyāh'', "beloved of Yahweh, Yah"), ...

's dedication of the

Temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...

;

Charles Spurgeon Charles Haddon Spurgeon (19 June 1834 – 31 January 1892) was an English Particular Baptist preacher. Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians of various denominations, among whom he is known as the "Prince of Preachers". He wa ...

suggests that the whole psalm was sung.

Eastern Orthodox

* Along with Psalm 135 (LXX numbers as 134 and 135 respectively) this psalm is called the

Polyeleos The Polyeleos is a festive portion of the Matins or All-Night Vigil service as observed on higher-ranking feast days in the Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Lutheran, and Byzantine Rite Catholic Churches. The Polyeleos is considered to be the high point of ...

or translated to "Many Mercies", named such after the refrain used "for His mercy endures forever". The Polyeleos is sung at Orthros (Matins) of a Feast Day and at Vigils. In some Slavic traditions and on

Mount Athos Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the penins ...

it is read every Sunday at

Orthros ''Orthros'' ( Greek: , meaning "early dawn" or "daybreak") or ''Oútrenya'' ( Slavonic Оўтреня), in the Byzantine Rite of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches, is the last of the four night offices (church service ...

. * On

, it is considered one of the most joyful periods of Matins-Liturgy, and the highest point of Matins. In Athonite practice, all the candles are lit, and the chandeliers are made to swing as the Psalms are sung, it is also accompanied by a joyful peal of the bells and censing of the church, sometimes with a hand censer which has many bells on it. * At vigils, it accompanies the opening of the Royal Doors and a great censing of the nave by the Priest(s) or Deacon(s).

Coptic Orthodox

This Psalm is chanted as the second Canticle or the second Hoos of the Midnight Praises known as

Tasbeha ''Tasbeha'' (a transliteration of the Arabic word for "praise") is the ''Midnight Praise'' of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The Praise consists of various canticles directly from the Holy Bible, known in the Coptic language as a "Hoos", as well as oth ...

, a nightly prayer practiced in

Coptic Orthodox Church The Coptic Orthodox Church ( cop, Ϯⲉⲕ̀ⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̀ⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ ⲛ̀ⲟⲣⲑⲟⲇⲟⲝⲟⲥ, translit=Ti.eklyseya en.remenkimi en.orthodoxos, lit=the Egyptian Orthodox Church; ar, الكنيسة القبطي� ...

es and Monasteries.

Literature

John Milton John Milton (9 December 1608 – 8 November 1674) was an English poet and intellectual. His 1667 epic poem '' Paradise Lost'', written in blank verse and including over ten chapters, was written in a time of immense religious flux and political ...

wrote an English paraphrase of Psalm 136 among his poems of 1645.

Musical settings

John Milton paraphrased the beginning in the hymn " Let us with a gladsome mind" in 1623. The German round, " Danket, danket dem Herrn" from the 18th century is also a paraphrase of verse 1. Heinrich Schütz composed two setting in German in his ''

Psalmen Davids Psalmen Davids (Psalms of David) is a collection of sacred choral music, settings mostly of psalms in German by Heinrich Schütz, who had studied the Venetian polychoral style with Giovanni Gabrieli. Book 1 was printed in Dresden in 1619 as his O ...

'' in 1618, SWV 32 and SWV 45. Verses 1-15 were set by

Roxanna Panufnik Roxanna Panufnik (born 24 April 1968) is a British composer of Polish heritage. She is the daughter of the composer and conductor Sir Andrzej Panufnik and his second wife Camilla, née Jessel. Panufnik was born in London. She attended Bedales ...

as "Love Endureth" in 2012. "Forever", written by

Chris Tomlin Christopher Dwayne Tomlin (born May 4, 1972) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, and worship leader from Grand Saline, Texas, United States, who has sold over 7 million records. He is a member of Passion Conferences ...

in 2001, also draws heavily on this psalm for its lyrics.

References

External links

* * * in Hebrew and English - Mechon-mamre * Text of Psalm 136 according to th
1928 Psalter

Praise the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever
text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

introduction and text, biblestudytools.com
Psalm 136 – God’s Never-Ending Mercy
enduringword.com
Psalm 136
at biblegateway.com
Psalm 136 / Give thanks to the Lord, for he is gracious.

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...

Hymns for Psalm 136
hymnary.org {{Psalms 136 Shacharit for Shabbat and Yom Tov Hallel