Psalm 136
Words: The Scottish Psalter
First Version (8.7.8.7. Iambic)
1 Give thanks to God, for good is he:
for mercy hath he ever.
2 Thanks to the God of gods give ye:
for his grace faileth never.
3 Thanks give the Lord of lords unto:
for mercy hath he ever.
4 Who only wonders great can do:
for his grace faileth never.
5 Who by his wisdom made heav'ns high:
for mercy hath he ever.
6 Who stretch'd the earth above the sea:
for his grace faileth never.
7 To him that made the great lights shine:
for mercy hath he ever.
8 The sun to rule till day decline:
for his grace faileth never.
9 The moon and stars to rule by night:
for mercy hath he ever.
10 Who Egypt's first-born kill'd outright:
for his grace faileth never.
11 And Isr'el brought from Egypt land:
for mercy hath he ever.
12 With stretch'd-out arm, and with strong hand:
for his grace faileth never.
13 By whom the Red sea parted was:
for mercy hath he ever.
14 And through its midst made Isr'el pass:
for his grace faileth never.
15 But Phar'oh and his host did drown:
for mercy hath he ever.
16 Who through the desert led his own:
for his grace faileth never.
17 To him great kings who overthrew:
for he hath mercy ever.
18 Yea, famous kings in battle slew:
for his grace faileth never.
19 Ev'n Sihon king of Amorites:
for he hath mercy ever.
20 And Og the king of Bashanites:
for his grace faileth never.
21 Their land in heritage to have:
(for mercy hath he ever.)
22 His servant Isr'el right he gave:
for his grace faileth never.
23 In our low state who on us thought:
for he hath mercy ever.
24 And from our foes our freedom wrought:
for his grace faileth never.
25 Who doth all flesh with food relieve:
for he hath mercy ever.
26 Thanks to the God of heaven give:
for his grace faileth never.
Second Version (6.6.6.6.8.8.)Note: This is a slightly modified version of the Psalm as it 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.
