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Psalm 136-140
New Living Translation
Psalm 136-140
New Living Translation
Psalm 136
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His faithful love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His faithful love endures forever.
4 Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever.
5 Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.
His faithful love endures forever.
6 Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
7 Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—
His faithful love endures forever.
8 the sun to rule the day,
His faithful love endures forever.
9 and the moon and stars to rule the night.
His faithful love endures forever.
10 Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
11 He brought Israel out of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
12 He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm.
His faithful love endures forever.
13 Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea.[a]
His faithful love endures forever.
14 He led Israel safely through,
His faithful love endures forever.
15 but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
16 Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness.
His faithful love endures forever.
17 Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings.
His faithful love endures forever.
18 He killed powerful kings—
His faithful love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites,
His faithful love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan.
His faithful love endures forever.
21 God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance—
His faithful love endures forever.
22 a special possession to his servant Israel.
His faithful love endures forever.
23 He remembered us in our weakness.
His faithful love endures forever.
24 He saved us from our enemies.
His faithful love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every living thing.
His faithful love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 137
1 Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept
as we thought of Jerusalem.[b]
2 We put away our harps,
hanging them on the branches of poplar trees.
3 For our captors demanded a song from us.
Our tormentors insisted on a joyful hymn:
“Sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!”
4 But how can we sing the songs of the Lord
while in a pagan land?
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget how to play the harp.
6 May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth
if I fail to remember you,
if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy.
7 O Lord, remember what the Edomites did
on the day the armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem.
“Destroy it!” they yelled.
“Level it to the ground!”
8 O Babylon, you will be destroyed.
Happy is the one who pays you back
for what you have done to us.
9 Happy is the one who takes your babies
and smashes them against the rocks!
Psalm 138
A psalm of David.
1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will sing your praises before the gods.
2 I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.
I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;
for your promises are backed
by all the honor of your name.
3 As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me strength.
4 Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord,
for all of them will hear your words.
5 Yes, they will sing about the Lord’s ways,
for the glory of the Lord is very great.
6 Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble,
but he keeps his distance from the proud.
7 Though I am surrounded by troubles,
you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
You reach out your hand,
and the power of your right hand saves me.
8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don’t abandon me, for you made me.
Psalm 139
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,[c] you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me,[d] O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
Get out of my life, you murderers!
20 They blaspheme you;
your enemies misuse your name.
21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?
Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
for your enemies are my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Psalm 140
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 O Lord, rescue me from evil people.
Protect me from those who are violent,
2 those who plot evil in their hearts
and stir up trouble all day long.
3 Their tongues sting like a snake;
the venom of a viper drips from their lips. Interlude
4 O Lord, keep me out of the hands of the wicked.
Protect me from those who are violent,
for they are plotting against me.
5 The proud have set a trap to catch me;
they have stretched out a net;
they have placed traps all along the way. Interlude
6 I said to the Lord, “You are my God!”
Listen, O Lord, to my cries for mercy!
7 O Sovereign Lord, the strong one who rescued me,
you protected me on the day of battle.
8 Lord, do not let evil people have their way.
Do not let their evil schemes succeed,
or they will become proud. Interlude
9 Let my enemies be destroyed
by the very evil they have planned for me.
10 Let burning coals fall down on their heads.
Let them be thrown into the fire
or into watery pits from which they can’t escape.
11 Don’t let liars prosper here in our land.
Cause great disasters to fall on the violent.
12 But I know the Lord will help those they persecute;
he will give justice to the poor.
13 Surely righteous people are praising your name;
the godly will live in your presence.
Psalm 136-140
New International Version
Psalm 136-140
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)
Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 You have searched me,(CB) Lord,
and you know(CC) me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;(CD)
you perceive my thoughts(CE) from afar.
3 You discern my going out(CF) and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.(CG)
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.(CH)
5 You hem me in(CI) behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,(CJ)
too lofty(CK) for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee(CL) from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens,(CM) you are there;
if I make my bed(CN) in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,(CO)
your right hand(CP) will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark(CQ) to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;(CR)
you knit me together(CS) in my mother’s womb.(CT)
14 I praise you(CU) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,(CV)
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made(CW) in the secret place,
when I was woven together(CX) in the depths of the earth.(CY)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained(CZ) for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[b](DA) God!(DB)
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,(DC)
they would outnumber the grains of sand(DD)—
when I awake,(DE) I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!(DF)
Away from me,(DG) you who are bloodthirsty!(DH)
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries(DI) misuse your name.(DJ)
21 Do I not hate those(DK) who hate you, Lord,
and abhor(DL) those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.(DM)
23 Search me,(DN) God, and know my heart;(DO)
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way(DP) in me,
and lead me(DQ) in the way everlasting.
Psalm 140[c]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Rescue me,(DR) Lord, from evildoers;
protect me from the violent,(DS)
2 who devise evil plans(DT) in their hearts
and stir up war(DU) every day.
3 They make their tongues as sharp as(DV) a serpent’s;
the poison of vipers(DW) is on their lips.[d]
4 Keep me safe,(DX) Lord, from the hands of the wicked;(DY)
protect me from the violent,
who devise ways to trip my feet.
5 The arrogant have hidden a snare(DZ) for me;
they have spread out the cords of their net(EA)
and have set traps(EB) for me along my path.
6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”(EC)
Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.(ED)
7 Sovereign Lord,(EE) my strong deliverer,
you shield my head in the day of battle.
8 Do not grant the wicked(EF) their desires, Lord;
do not let their plans succeed.
Footnotes
- Psalm 136:13 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 15
- Psalm 139:17 Or How amazing are your thoughts concerning me
- Psalm 140:1 In Hebrew texts 140:1-13 is numbered 140:2-14.
- Psalm 140:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 8.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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.