Psalms 135:1-12

Psalm 135 ¹ 

135:1 Praise the Lord!

Praise the name of the Lord!

Offer praise, you servants of the Lord,

135:2 who serve ²  in the Lord’s temple,

in the courts of the temple of our God.

135:3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good!

Sing praises to his name, for it is pleasant! ³ 

135:4 Indeed, ⁴  the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,

Israel to be his special possession. ⁵ 

135:5 Yes, ⁶  I know the Lord is great,

and our Lord is superior to all gods.

135:6 He does whatever he pleases

in heaven and on earth,

in the seas and all the ocean depths.

135:7 He causes the clouds to arise from the end of the earth,

makes lightning bolts accompany the rain,

and brings the wind out of his storehouses.

135:8 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt,

including both men and animals.

135:9 He performed awesome deeds ⁷  and acts of judgment ⁸ 

in your midst, O Egypt,

against Pharaoh and all his servants.

135:10 He defeated many nations,

and killed mighty kings –

135:11 Sihon, king of the Amorites,

and Og, king of Bashan,

and all the kingdoms of Canaan.

135:12 He gave their land as an inheritance,

as an inheritance to Israel his people.

[135:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 135. The psalmist urges God’s people to praise him because he is the incomparable God and ruler of the world who has accomplished great things for Israel.

[135:2]  ² tn Heb “stand.”

[135:3]  ³ tn Heb “for [it is] pleasant.” The translation assumes that it is the Lord’s “name” that is pleasant. Another option is to understand the referent of “it” as the act of praising (see Ps 147:1).

[135:4]  ⁴ tn Or “for.”

[135:4]  ⁵ sn His special possession. The language echoes Exod 19:5; Deut 7:6; 14:2; 26:18. See also Mal 3:17.

[135:5]  ⁶ tn Or “for.”

[135:9]  ⁷ tn Or “signs” (see Ps 65:8).

[135:9]  ⁸ tn Or “portents”; “omens” (see Ps 71:7). The Egyptian plagues are alluded to here.