Psalm 136
This psalm is a continued exhortation to praise the Lord for the perpetual displays of his mercy. The hearty singing of it has been honoured with the most signal appearances of God’s kindness, 2 Chron. 5:13 and 20:21-22. We are in it directed to praise God, (1.) As great and good in himself, ver. 1-4. (2.) As the Creator of all things, ver 5-9. (3.) As the God and Saviour of Israel, who brought them out of Egypt, through the Red sea and wilderness, and who cast out the nations, and gave them the possession of Canaan, ver. 10-22. (4.) As our gracious and condescending Redeemer, ver. 23-24. (5.) As the great and sovereign Benefactor of all creatures, ver. 25-26.
While I sing it, let my heart be melted, and all-inflamed, with the loving-kindness and mercy of God in Christ. Let me behold, believe, and admire the unbounded extent, and everlasting duration thereof.
(This version of the Psalm first
appeared in the Scottish Psalter of 1564.)
1 Praise God, for he is kind:
His mercy lasts for aye.
2 Give thanks with heart and mind
To God of gods alway:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
3 The Lord of lords praise ye,
Whose mercies still endure.
4 Great wonders only he
Doth work by his great pow’r
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
5 Which God omnipotent,
By might and wisdom high,
The heav’n and firmament
Did frame, as we may see:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
6 To him who did outstretch
This earth so great and wide,
Above the waters’ reach
Making it to abide:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
7 Great lights he made to be;
For his grace lasteth aye:
8 Such as the sun we see,
To rule the lightsome day:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
9 Also the moon so clear,
Which shineth in our sight;
The stars that do appear,
To guide the darksome night:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
10 To him that Egypt smote,
Who did his message scorn;
And in his anger hot
Did kill all their first-born:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
11 Thence Isr’el out he brought;
For his grace lasteth ever.
12 With a strong hand he wrought,
And stretch’d-out arm deliver:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
13 The sea he cut in two;
For his grace lasteth still.
14 And through its midst to go
Made his own Israel:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
15 But overwhelm’d and lost
Was proud king Pharaoh,
With all his mighty host,
And chariots there also:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
16 To him who pow’rfully
His chosen people led,
Ev’n through the desert dry,
And in that place them fed:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
17 To him great kings who smote;
For his grace hath no bound.
18 Who slew, and spared not
Kings famous and renown’d:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
19 Sihon the Am’rites’ king;
For his grace lasteth ever:
20 Og also, who did reign
The land of Bashan over:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
21 Their land by lot he gave;
For his grace faileth never,
22 That Isr’el might it have
In heritage for ever:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
23 Who hath remembered
Us in our low estate;
24 And us delivered
From foes which did us hate:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
25 Who to all flesh gives food;
For his grace faileth never.
26 Give thanks to God most good,
The God of heav’n, for ever:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
Croft's 136th Tune Sung
