Psalms 135
135
Psalm 135#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.
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord!
Offer praise, you servants of the Lord,
2 who serve#tn Heb “stand.” in the Lord’s temple,
in the courts of the temple of our God.
3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good!
Sing praises to his name, for it is pleasant!#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).
4 Indeed,#tn Or “for.” the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel to be his special possession.#sn His special possession. The language echoes Exod 19:5; Deut 7:6; 14:2; 26:18. See also Mal 3:17.
5 Yes,#tn Or “for.” I know the Lord is great,
and our Lord is superior to all gods.
6 He does whatever he pleases
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all the ocean depths.
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.
8 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
including both men and animals.
9 He performed awesome deeds#tn Or “signs” (see Ps 65:8). and acts of judgment#tn Or “portents”; “omens” (see Ps 71:7). The Egyptian plagues are alluded to here.
in your midst, O Egypt,
against Pharaoh and all his servants.
10 He defeated many nations,
and killed mighty kings –
11 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
and Og, king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan.
12 He gave their land as an inheritance,
as an inheritance to Israel his people.
13 O Lord, your name endures,#tn Or “is forever.”
your reputation, O Lord, lasts.#tn Heb “O Lord, your remembrance [is] for a generation and a generation.” See Ps 102:12.
14 For the Lord vindicates#tn Heb “judges,” but here the idea is that the Lord “judges on behalf of” his people. The imperfect verbal forms here and in the next line draw attention to the Lord’s characteristic actions. his people,
and has compassion on his servants.#sn Verse 14 echoes Deut 32:36, where Moses affirms that God mercifully relents from fully judging his wayward people.
15 The nations’ idols are made of silver and gold,
they are man-made.#tn Heb “the work of the hands of man.”
16 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see,
17 and ears, but cannot hear.
Indeed, they cannot breathe.#tn Heb “indeed, there is not breath in their mouth.” For the collocation אַף אֵין (’af ’en, “indeed, there is not”) see Isa 41:26. Another option is to take אַף as “nose” (see Ps 115:6), in which case one might translate, “a nose, [but] they have no breath in their mouths.”
18 Those who make them will end up#tn Heb “will be.” Another option is to take the prefixed verbal form as a prayer, “may those who make them end up like them.” sn Because the idols are lifeless, they cannot help their worshipers in times of crisis. Consequently the worshipers end up as dead as the gods in which they trust. like them,
as will everyone who trusts in them.
19 O family#tn Heb “house” (here and in the next two lines). of Israel, praise the Lord!
O family of Aaron, praise the Lord!
20 O family of Levi, praise the Lord!
You loyal followers#tn Heb “fearers.” of the Lord, praise the Lord!
21 The Lord deserves praise in Zion#tn Heb “praised be the Lord from Zion.” –
he who dwells in Jerusalem.#map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
Praise the Lord!
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Psalms 135: NET
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Psalms 135
135
A Hymn of Praise
1Praise the LORD!
Praise his name, you servants of the LORD,
2who stand in the LORD's house,
in the Temple of our God.
3Praise the LORD, because he is good;
sing praises to his name, because he is kind.#135.3 he is kind; or it is pleasant to do so.
4He chose Jacob for himself,
the people of Israel for his own.
5I know that our LORD is great,
greater than all the gods.
6He does whatever he wishes
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and in the depths below.
7He brings storm clouds from the ends of the earth;
he makes lightning for the storms,
and he brings out the wind from his storeroom.
8In Egypt he killed all the firstborn
of people and animals alike.
9There he performed miracles and wonders
to punish the king and all his officials.
10He destroyed many nations
and killed powerful kings:
11Sihon, king of the Amorites,
Og, king of Bashan,
and all the kings in Canaan.
12He gave their lands to his people;
he gave them to Israel.
13 LORD, you will always be proclaimed as God;
all generations will remember you.
14The LORD will defend his people;
he will take pity on his servants.
15 #
Ps 115.4–8; Rev 9.20 The gods of the nations are made of silver and gold;
they are formed by human hands.
16They have mouths, but cannot speak,
and eyes, but cannot see.
17They have ears, but cannot hear;
they are not even able to breathe.
18May all who made them and who trust in them
become#135.18 May all… become; or All who made them and who trust in them will become. like the idols they have made!
19Praise the LORD, people of Israel;
praise him, you priests of God!
20Praise the LORD, you Levites;
praise him, all you that worship him!
21Praise the LORD in Zion,
in Jerusalem, his home.
Praise the LORD!
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Good News Bible with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.