Psalms 136:1
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalms 136:1 in other translations
| BSB | Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His loving devotion endures forever. |
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| WEB | Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever. |
| ASV | Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever. |
| YLT | Give ye thanks to Jehovah, For good, for to the age is His kindness. |
| DARBY | Give ye thanks unto Jehovah, for he is good; for his loving-kindness endureth for ever: |
| BBE | O give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy is unchanging for ever. |
| Webster | O give thanks to the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. |
What does Psalms 136:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 136:1-3
Psa 136:1-26. The theme is the same as that of Psalm 135. God should be praised for His works of creation and providence, His deliverance and care of His people, and judgments on their enemies, and His goodness to all. The chorus to every verse is in terms of that of Psa 106:1; 118:1-4, and was perhaps used as the Amen by the people, in worship (compare 1Ch 16:36; Psa 105:45).
1-3. The divine titles denote supremacy.Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
An exhortation to give thanks to God for various mercies granted to all men, Psa 136:1-9; particularly to the Israelites in Egypt, Psa 136:10-12; at the Red Sea, Psa 136:13-15; in the wilderness, Psa 136:16-20; and in the promised land, Psa 136:21, Psa 136:22; for the redemption of the captives from Babylon Psa 136:23, Psa 136:24; and for his providential mercies to all, Psa 136:25, Psa 136:26. This Psalm is little else than a repetition of the preceding, with the burden, כי לעולם חסדו ki leolam chasdo, "because his mercy endureth for ever," at the end of every verse. See below. It seems to have been a responsive song: the first part of the verse sung by the Levites, the burden by the people. It has no title in the Hebrew, nor in any of the Versions. It was doubtless written after the captivity. The author is unknown. Verse 1 O give thanks unto the Lord: for he is good - This sentiment often occurs: the goodness of the Divine nature, both as a ground of confidence and of thanksgiving. For his mercy endureth for ever - These words, which are the burden of every verse, כי לעולם חסדו ki leolam chasdo, might be translated: "For his tender mercy is to the coming age:" meaning, probably, if the Psalm be prophetic, that peculiar display of his compassion, the redemption of the world by the Lord Jesus. These very words were prescribed by David as an acknowledgment, to be used continually in the Divine worship, see 1Chr 16:41 : also by Solomon, 2Chr 7:3, 2Chr 7:6, and observed by Jehoshaphat, 2Chr 20:21; all acknowledging that, however rich in mercy God was to them, the most extensive displays of his goodness were reserved for the age to come; see 1Pet 1:10-12 : "Of which salvation the prophets have inquired, and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you, - unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us, they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that preached the Gospel unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven," etc.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 136:1-9
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Psalms 136:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Psalms 136:1
- 1 Chronicles 16:34
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
- Psalms 118:1
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
- 1 Chronicles 16:41
And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever;
- Psalms 106:1
Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
- Psalms 107:1
O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
- 2 Chronicles 20:21
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.
- Ezra 3:11
And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
- 2 Chronicles 7:3
And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
- Luke 1:50
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
- Jeremiah 33:11
The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the Lord.
- 2 Chronicles 7:6
And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
- Psalms 105:1
O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
(Title.)This Psalm is little else than a repetition of the preceding, with the addition of the burden, "for his mercy endureth for ever," at the end of each verse; and it was doubtless composed on the same occasion. It seems evidently to have been a responsive song; the first part of the verse being probably sung by the Levites, and the burden by the people.
Give thanks.
105:1; 106:1; 107:1; 118:1; 119:68; 2Ch 7:3,6; Ezr 3:11; Jer 33:11
for his mercy.
103:17; 1Ch 16:34,41; 2Ch 20:21; Lu 1:50; Jude 1:21
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Psalms 136:1
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
- Psalms 136:2
O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalms 136:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | ALABAD á Jehová, porque es bueno; porque para siempre es su misericordia. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Célébrez l’ Éternel! Car il est bon; car sa bonté demeure à toujours. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Preiset Jehova! denn er ist gütig, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Psalmus David, Jeremiæ. Super flumina Babylonis illic sedimus et flevimus, cum recordaremur Sion. |