Psalms 136

		Psalm 136

1		Give thanks to the Lord, for he is gracious, •
		for his mercy endures for ever.

2		Give thanks to the God of gods, •
		for his mercy endures for ever.

3		Give thanks to the Lord of lords, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

4		Who alone does great wonders, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

5		Who by wisdom made the heavens, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

6		Who laid out the earth upon the waters, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

7		Who made the great lights, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

8		The sun to rule the day, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

9		The moon and the stars to govern the night, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;


10		Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

11		And brought out Israel from among them, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

12		With a mighty hand and outstretched arm, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

13		Who divided the Red Sea in two, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

14		And made Israel to pass through the midst of it, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

15		But Pharaoh and his host he overthrew in the Red Sea, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

16		Who led his people through the wilderness, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

17		Who smote great kings, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

18		And slew mighty kings, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

19		Sihon, king of the Amorites, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

20		And Og, the king of Bashan, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

21		And gave away their land for a heritage, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

22		A heritage for Israel his servant, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;


23		Who remembered us when we were in trouble, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

24		And delivered us from our enemies, •
		for his mercy endures for ever;

25		Who gives food to all creatures, •
		for his mercy endures for ever.

26		Give thanks to the God of heaven, •
		for his mercy endures for ever.

		Psalm 137

1		By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, •
		when we remembered Zion.

2		As for our lyres, we hung them up •
		on the willows that grow in that land.

3		For there our captors asked for a song,
		our tormentors called for mirth: •
		'Sing us one of the songs of Zion.'

4		How shall we sing the Lord's song •
		in a strange land?

5		If I forget you, O Jerusalem, •
		let my right hand forget its skill.

6		Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth
		if I do not remember you, •
		if I set not Jerusalem above my highest joy.


7		Remember, O Lord, against the people of Edom
		the day of Jerusalem, •
		how they said, 'Down with it, down with it,
		even to the ground.'

8		O daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, •
		happy the one who repays you
		for all you have done to us;

9		Who takes your little ones, •
		and dashes them against the rock.

		Psalm 138

1		I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; •
		before the gods will I sing praise to you.

2		I will bow down towards your holy temple and praise your name,
		because of your love and faithfulness; •
		for you have glorified your name
		and your word above all things.

3		In the day that I called to you, you answered me; •
		you put new strength in my soul.

4		All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, •
		for they have heard the words of your mouth.

5		They shall sing of the ways of the Lord, •
		that great is the glory of the Lord.

6		Though the Lord be high, he watches over the lowly; •
		as for the proud, he regards them from afar.

7		Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
		you will preserve me; •
		you will stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;
		your right hand will save me.

8		The Lord shall make good his purpose for me; •
		your loving-kindness, O Lord, endures for ever;
		forsake not the work of your hands.

		Psalm 139

1		O Lord, you have searched me out and known me; •
		you know my sitting down and my rising up;
		you discern my thoughts from afar.

2		You mark out my journeys and my resting place •
		and are acquainted with all my ways.

3		For there is not a word on my tongue, •
		but you, O Lord, know it altogether.

4		You encompass me behind and before •
		and lay your hand upon me.

5		Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, •
		so high that I cannot attain it.

6		Where can I go then from your spirit? •
		Or where can I flee from your presence?

7		If I climb up to heaven, you are there; •
		if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.

8		If I take the wings of the morning •
		and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

9		Even there your hand shall lead me, •
		your right hand hold me fast.

10		If I say, 'Surely the darkness will cover me •
		and the light around me turn to night'

11		Even darkness is no darkness with you;
		the night is as clear as the day; •
		darkness and light to you are both alike.


12		For you yourself created my inmost parts; •
		you knit me together in my mother's womb.

13		I thank you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; •
		marvellous are your works, my soul knows well.

14		My frame was not hidden from you, •
		when I was made in secret
		and woven in the depths of the earth.

15		Your eyes beheld my form, as yet unfinished; •
		already in your book were all my members written,

16		As day by day they were fashioned •
		when as yet there was none of them.

17		How deep are your counsels to me, O God! •
		How great is the sum of them!

18		If I count them, they are more in number than the sand, •
		and at the end, I am still in your presence.


19		O that you would slay the wicked, O God, •
		that the bloodthirsty might depart from me!

20		They speak against you with wicked intent; •
		your enemies take up your name for evil.

21		Do I not oppose those, O Lord, who oppose you? •
		Do I not abhor those who rise up against you?

22		I hate them with a perfect hatred; •
		they have become my own enemies also.


23		Search me out, O God, and know my heart; •
		try me and examine my thoughts.

24		See if there is any way of wickedness in me •
		and lead me in the way everlasting.

		Psalm 140

1		Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers •
		and protect me from the violent,

2		Who devise evil in their hearts •
		and stir up strife all the day long.

3		They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; •
		adder's poison is under their lips.

4		Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; •
		protect me from the violent
		who seek to make me stumble.

5		The proud have laid a snare for me
		and spread out a net of cords; •
		they have set traps along my path.

6		I have said to the Lord, 'You are my God; •
		listen, O Lord, to the voice of my supplication.

7		'O Lord God, the strength of my salvation, •
		you have covered my head in the day of battle.

8		'Do not grant the desires of the wicked, O Lord, •
		do not prosper their wicked plans.

9		'Let not those who surround me lift up their heads; •
		let the evil of their own lips fall upon them.

10		'Let hot burning coals rain upon them; •
		let them be cast into the depths, that they rise not again.'

11		No slanderer shall prosper on the earth, •
		and evil shall hunt down the violent to overthrow them.

12		I know that the Lord will bring justice for the oppressed •
		and maintain the cause of the needy.

13		Surely, the righteous will give thanks to your name, •
		and the upright shall dwell in your presence.

© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
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