Psalm 134-137
Lexham English Bible
Praising Yahweh in the Temple at Night
A song of ascents.[a]
134 Look, bless Yahweh, all you the servants of Yahweh,
who serve[b] in the house[c] of Yahweh by night.
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
and bless Yahweh.
3 May Yahweh bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth.
Praise to God for His Power and Redemption
135 Praise Yah![d] Praise the name of Yahweh.
Praise him, O servants of Yahweh,
2 who stand in the house[e] of Yahweh,
in the courts of the house[f] of our God.
3 Praise Yah,[g] for Yahweh is good.
Sing praises concerning his name, for it is pleasant.
4 For Yah has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his special possession.
5 For I know that Yahweh is great,
and our Lord is greater than all gods.
6 All that Yahweh desires, he does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all the depths.
7 He causes clouds to rise from the edge of the earth;
he makes lightnings for the rain;
he brings out the wind from his storehouses.
8 Who struck the firstborn of Egypt,
both of humans[h] and animals.[i]
9 He sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt,
against Pharaoh and all his servants.
10 Who struck many nations
and killed mighty kings—
11 Sihon the king of the Amorites,
and Og the king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan—
12 and he gave their land as an inheritance,
an inheritance for his people Israel.
13 O Yahweh, your name endures forever,
your renown[j] throughout all generations,[k]
14 for Yahweh will plead the cause of his people
and will have compassion on his servants.
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of the hands of humankind.
16 They have mouths, but cannot speak;
they have eyes, but cannot see;
17 they have ears, but cannot hear;
there is not even breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them become like them,
as does everyone who trusts in them.
19 O house of Israel, bless Yahweh.
O house of Aaron, bless Yahweh.
20 O house of Levi, bless Yahweh.
You who fear Yahweh, bless Yahweh.
21 Blessed be Yahweh from Zion,
who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise Yah![l]
Praise to God for His Creation and Deliverance
136 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,
for his loyal love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his loyal love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his loyal love endures forever.
4 To him who alone does great wonders,
for his loyal love endures forever.
5 To him who made the heavens with skill,[m]
for his loyal love endures forever.
6 To him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his loyal love endures forever.
7 To him who made the great lights,
for his loyal love endures forever.
8 The sun to rule the day,
for his loyal love endures forever.
9 The moon and stars to rule the night,
for his loyal love endures forever.
10 To him who struck Egypt through their firstborn,
for his loyal love endures forever.
11 And he brought Israel out from among them,
for his loyal love endures forever.
12 With a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his loyal love endures forever.
13 To him who divided the Red Sea[n] in two,
for his loyal love endures forever.
14 And he let Israel cross over through the midst of it,
for his loyal love endures forever.
15 But he tossed Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea,[o]
for his loyal love endures forever.
16 To him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his loyal love endures forever.
17 To him who struck great kings,
for his loyal love endures forever.
18 And he killed mighty kings,
for his loyal love endures forever.
19 Sihon the king of the Amorites,
for his loyal love endures forever.
20 And Og the king of Bashan,
for his loyal love endures forever.
21 And he gave their land as an inheritance,
for his loyal love endures forever.
22 An inheritance to Israel his servant,
for his loyal love endures forever.
23 Who remembered us in our low estate,
for his loyal love endures forever.
24 And he rescued us from our enemies,
for his loyal love endures forever.
25 The one who gives food to all flesh,
for his loyal love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his loyal love endures forever.
Lament During the Babylonian Exile
137 By the rivers of Babylon,
there we sat, yes, we wept,
when we remembered Zion.
2 On the willows[p] in her midst,
we hung up our lyres.
3 For there our captors asked of us
words of a song,
and our tormentors[q] asked of us jubilation,
“Sing for us from a song of Zion.”
4 How could we sing the song of Yahweh
in a foreign land?[r]
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget.[s]
6 Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth,
if I do not remember you,
if do not I exalt Jerusalem
above my highest joy.
7 Remember, O Yahweh, against the sons of Edom
the day of Jerusalem,
the ones who said, “Lay it bare! Lay it bare
to its foundation!”
8 O daughter of Babylon, about to be devastated,
happy shall be he who pays back to you
what you paid out to us.[t]
9 Happy shall be he who seizes
and smashes your children
against the rock.
Footnotes
- Psalm 134:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
- Psalm 134:1 Literally “stand”
- Psalm 134:1 Or “temple”
- Psalm 135:1 Hebrew hallelujah
- Psalm 135:2 Or “temple”
- Psalm 135:2 Or “temple”
- Psalm 135:3 A shortened form of “Yahweh”
- Psalm 135:8 Hebrew “human”
- Psalm 135:8 Hebrew “animal”
- Psalm 135:13 Literally “remembrance”
- Psalm 135:13 Literally “for a generation and a generation”
- Psalm 135:21 Hebrew hallelujah
- Psalm 136:5 Or “understanding”
- Psalm 136:13 Literally “sea of reed”
- Psalm 136:15 Literally “sea of reed”
- Psalm 137:2 Species of tree uncertain
- Psalm 137:3 Only occurring once in the MT, this interpretation is uncertain. The LXX’s “carried us captive” is a guess. If related to the Hebrew root yll it might have the idea of “mockers/yammerers”
- Psalm 137:4 Literally “a land of a foreigner”
- Psalm 137:5 That is, how to play a musical instrument
- Psalm 137:8 Literally “with what you treated us”
Psalm 134-137
New International Version
Psalm 134
A song of ascents.
1 Praise the Lord, all you servants(A) of the Lord
who minister(B) by night(C) in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands(D) in the sanctuary(E)
and praise the Lord.(F)
Psalm 135(I)
1 Praise the Lord.[a]
Praise the name of the Lord;
praise him, you servants(J) of the Lord,
2 you who minister in the house(K) of the Lord,
in the courts(L) of the house of our God.
3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;(M)
sing praise to his name,(N) for that is pleasant.(O)
4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob(P) to be his own,
Israel to be his treasured possession.(Q)
5 I know that the Lord is great,(R)
that our Lord is greater than all gods.(S)
6 The Lord does whatever pleases him,(T)
in the heavens and on the earth,(U)
in the seas and all their depths.
7 He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
he sends lightning with the rain(V)
and brings out the wind(W) from his storehouses.(X)
8 He struck down the firstborn(Y) of Egypt,
the firstborn of people and animals.
9 He sent his signs(Z) and wonders into your midst, Egypt,
against Pharaoh and all his servants.(AA)
10 He struck down many(AB) nations
and killed mighty kings—
11 Sihon(AC) king of the Amorites,(AD)
Og king of Bashan,(AE)
and all the kings of Canaan(AF)—
12 and he gave their land as an inheritance,(AG)
an inheritance to his people Israel.
13 Your name, Lord, endures forever,(AH)
your renown,(AI) Lord, through all generations.
14 For the Lord will vindicate his people(AJ)
and have compassion on his servants.(AK)
15 The idols of the nations(AL) are silver and gold,
made by human hands.(AM)
16 They have mouths, but cannot speak,(AN)
eyes, but cannot see.
17 They have ears, but cannot hear,
nor is there breath(AO) in their mouths.
18 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.
19 All you Israelites, praise the Lord;(AP)
house of Aaron, praise the Lord;
20 house of Levi, praise the Lord;
you who fear him, praise the Lord.
21 Praise be to the Lord from Zion,(AQ)
to him who dwells in Jerusalem.(AR)
Praise the Lord.
Psalm 136
1 Give thanks(AS) to the Lord, for he is good.(AT)
His love endures forever.(AU)
2 Give thanks(AV) to the God of gods.(AW)
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks(AX) to the Lord of lords:(AY)
His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders,(AZ)
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding(BA) made the heavens,(BB)
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth(BC) upon the waters,(BD)
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights(BE)—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern(BF) 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(BG) of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out(BH) from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand(BI) and outstretched arm;(BJ)
His love endures forever.
13 to him who divided the Red Sea[b](BK) asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through(BL) the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;(BM)
His love endures forever.
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;(BN)
His love endures forever.
17 to him who struck down great kings,(BO)
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings(BP)—
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites(BQ)
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan(BR)—
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land(BS) as an inheritance,(BT)
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance(BU) to his servant Israel.(BV)
His love endures forever.
23 He remembered us(BW) in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us(BX) from our enemies.(BY)
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food(BZ) to every creature.
His love endures forever.
Psalm 137
1 By the rivers of Babylon(CD) we sat and wept(CE)
when we remembered Zion.(CF)
2 There on the poplars(CG)
we hung our harps,(CH)
3 for there our captors(CI) asked us for songs,
our tormentors demanded(CJ) songs of joy;
they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”(CK)
4 How can we sing the songs of the Lord(CL)
while in a foreign land?
5 If I forget you,(CM) Jerusalem,
may my right hand forget its skill.
6 May my tongue cling to the roof(CN) of my mouth
if I do not remember(CO) you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem(CP)
my highest joy.
7 Remember, Lord, what the Edomites(CQ) did
on the day Jerusalem fell.(CR)
“Tear it down,” they cried,
“tear it down to its foundations!”(CS)
8 Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,(CT)
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(CU) against the rocks.
Footnotes
- Psalm 135:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verses 3 and 21
- Psalm 136:13 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 15
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