New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Psalm 136
1
Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good. His faithful love continues forever.
2
Give thanks to the greatest God of all. His faithful love continues forever.
3
Give thanks to the most powerful Lord of all. His faithful love continues forever.
4
Give thanks to the only one who can do great miracles. His faithful love continues forever.
5
By his understanding he made the heavens. His faithful love continues forever.
6
He spread out the earth on the waters. His faithful love continues forever.
7
He made the great lights in the sky. His faithful love continues forever.
8
He made the sun to rule over the day. His faithful love continues forever.
9
He made the moon and stars to rule over the night. His faithful love continues forever.
10
Give thanks to the One who killed the oldest son of each family in Egypt. His faithful love continues forever.
11
He brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. His faithful love continues forever.
12
He did it by reaching out his mighty hand and powerful arm. His faithful love continues forever.
13
Give thanks to the One who parted the Red Sea. His faithful love continues forever.
14
He brought Israel through the middle of it. His faithful love continues forever.
15
But he swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His faithful love continues forever.
16
Give thanks to the One who led his people through the desert. His faithful love continues forever.
17
He killed great kings. His faithful love continues forever.
18
He struck down mighty kings. His faithful love continues forever.
19
He killed Sihon, the king of the Amorites. His faithful love continues forever.
20
He killed Og, the king of Bashan. His faithful love continues forever.
21
He gave their land as a gift. His faithful love continues forever.
22
He gave it as a gift to his servant Israel. His faithful love continues forever.
23
Give thanks to the One who remembered us when things were going badly for us. His faithful love continues forever.
24
He set us free from our enemies. His faithful love continues forever.
25
He gives food to every creature. His faithful love continues forever.
26
Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love continues forever.
Summary of Psalm 136
Psalm 136 is one of the Bible's great songs of thanksgiving. Its central message is repeated throughout the entire chapter: God's mercy endures forever. Every major statement about God is followed by this same response, creating a rhythm that would have made the psalm especially suitable for communal worship.
The chapter begins by calling people to give thanks because the LORD is good. It then describes Him as the God of gods and Lord of lords, emphasizing that His authority is greater than every other power. The psalmist wants God's people to remember that the LORD is not merely their national God but the supreme ruler over all creation.
The first major section focuses on creation. God made the heavens with wisdom, established the earth, and controls the waters. He created the great lights—the sun, moon, and stars—and gave them their roles in governing day and night. The heavenly bodies are presented as creations of God rather than gods themselves. This was particularly important in the ancient world because several surrounding cultures worshiped the sun, moon, and other heavenly objects.
The psalm then moves from creation to Israel's history. The first major historical event remembered is the Exodus. God struck the firstborn of Egypt, brought Israel out of slavery with a mighty hand, divided the Red Sea, allowed Israel to pass through it, and defeated Pharaoh's army.
The story then continues into the wilderness. God guided His people through the desert and eventually defeated powerful kings who stood in their way. The psalm specifically names Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan. Their defeat allowed Israel to receive the territory east of the Jordan.
The land is described as an inheritance given to Israel. This is an important part of the chapter because the writer is not simply remembering military victories. He is remembering God's faithfulness to His promises. The land represents the fulfillment of promises made to Israel's ancestors.
The psalm then moves from the nation's early history to a broader statement about God's continuing care. God remembered Israel when the nation was in a low condition and rescued it from its enemies. This suggests that God's mercy was not limited to the distant past. Whenever Israel became weak or threatened, the people could remember that God had helped them before.
The next verse expands God's care beyond Israel. The LORD gives food to all living things. God is therefore presented as both Israel's deliverer and the provider for all creation.
The chapter ends exactly where it began: with a call to give thanks because God's mercy endures forever.
The repeated phrase is the key to understanding the entire psalm. God's people are encouraged to look at creation, the Exodus, the wilderness, military victories, the promised land, national rescue, and daily provision and recognize one common truth: God's faithful love continues through every generation.
Overall, Psalm 136 is a chapter about remembering. It teaches that gratitude grows when people deliberately remember what God has done. The psalm moves from the beginning of creation to Israel's history and finally to God's continuing provision. Every part of the story points back to the same conclusion: God's mercy is greater than changing circumstances, human weakness, political powers, and the passage of time. His people are therefore called to remember His works and respond with continual thanksgiving.
The chapter begins by calling people to give thanks because the LORD is good. It then describes Him as the God of gods and Lord of lords, emphasizing that His authority is greater than every other power. The psalmist wants God's people to remember that the LORD is not merely their national God but the supreme ruler over all creation.
The first major section focuses on creation. God made the heavens with wisdom, established the earth, and controls the waters. He created the great lights—the sun, moon, and stars—and gave them their roles in governing day and night. The heavenly bodies are presented as creations of God rather than gods themselves. This was particularly important in the ancient world because several surrounding cultures worshiped the sun, moon, and other heavenly objects.
The psalm then moves from creation to Israel's history. The first major historical event remembered is the Exodus. God struck the firstborn of Egypt, brought Israel out of slavery with a mighty hand, divided the Red Sea, allowed Israel to pass through it, and defeated Pharaoh's army.
The story then continues into the wilderness. God guided His people through the desert and eventually defeated powerful kings who stood in their way. The psalm specifically names Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan. Their defeat allowed Israel to receive the territory east of the Jordan.
The land is described as an inheritance given to Israel. This is an important part of the chapter because the writer is not simply remembering military victories. He is remembering God's faithfulness to His promises. The land represents the fulfillment of promises made to Israel's ancestors.
The psalm then moves from the nation's early history to a broader statement about God's continuing care. God remembered Israel when the nation was in a low condition and rescued it from its enemies. This suggests that God's mercy was not limited to the distant past. Whenever Israel became weak or threatened, the people could remember that God had helped them before.
The next verse expands God's care beyond Israel. The LORD gives food to all living things. God is therefore presented as both Israel's deliverer and the provider for all creation.
The chapter ends exactly where it began: with a call to give thanks because God's mercy endures forever.
The repeated phrase is the key to understanding the entire psalm. God's people are encouraged to look at creation, the Exodus, the wilderness, military victories, the promised land, national rescue, and daily provision and recognize one common truth: God's faithful love continues through every generation.
Overall, Psalm 136 is a chapter about remembering. It teaches that gratitude grows when people deliberately remember what God has done. The psalm moves from the beginning of creation to Israel's history and finally to God's continuing provision. Every part of the story points back to the same conclusion: God's mercy is greater than changing circumstances, human weakness, political powers, and the passage of time. His people are therefore called to remember His works and respond with continual thanksgiving.