Psalms 133 to 139 : English Standard Version   | SearchSearch | Next Version | Previous Page | Next Page |

Other VersionsPsalm 133

When Brothers Dwell in Unity

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

133:1  Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity![1] 2It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! 3It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

[1] Or dwell together 


Psalm 134

Come, Bless the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

134:1  Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! 2Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!

3May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!


Psalm 135

Your Name, O Lord, Endures Forever

135:1  Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord, give praise, O servants of the Lord, 2who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God! 3Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant![2] 4For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.

5For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. 6Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. 7He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

8He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; 9who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants; 10who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings, 11Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, 12and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel.

13Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown,[3] O Lord, throughout all ages. 14For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.

15The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 16They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; 17they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. 18Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them!

19O house of Israel, bless the Lord! O house of Aaron, bless the Lord! 20O house of Levi, bless the Lord! You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! 21Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!

[2] Or for he is beautiful  [3] Or remembrance


Psalm 136

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

136:1  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. 2Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. 3Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;

4to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; 5to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; 6to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; 7to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; 8the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; 9the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;

10to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; 11and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever; 12with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever; 13to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; 14and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; 15but overthrew[4] Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever; 16to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;

17to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; 18and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; 19Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever; 20and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever; 21and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever; 22a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.

23It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; 24and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; 25he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.

26Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.

[4] Hebrew shook off


Psalm 137

How Shall We Sing the Lord’s Song?

137:1  By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. 2On the willows[5] there we hung up our lyres. 3For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? 5If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! 6Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy!

7Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!” 8O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! 9Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!

[5] Or poplars


Psalm 138

Give Thanks to the Lord

Of David.

138:1  I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; 2I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.[6] 3On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.[7]

4All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, 5and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. 6For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.

7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. 8The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

[6] Or you have exalted your word above all your name  [7] Hebrew you made me bold in my soul with strength


Psalm 139

Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

139:1  O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

7Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

13For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[8] Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.

17How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

19Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain![9] 21Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts![10] 24And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting![11]

[8] Or for I am fearfully set apart  [9] Hebrew lacks your name  [10] Or cares  [11] Or in the ancient way (compare Jeremiah 6:16)

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