# Psalms 136

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [Psalms](/codex/psalms/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 1. Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; For he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever. 2. Oh give thanks unto the God of gods; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever. 3. Oh give thanks unto the Lord of lords; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever: 4. To him who alone doeth great wonders; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever: 5. To him that by understanding made the heavens; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever: 6. To him that spread forth the earth above the waters; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever: 7. To him that made great lights; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever: 8. The sun to rule by day; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever; 9. The moon and stars to rule by night; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever: 10. To him that smote Egypt in their first-born; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever; 11. And brought out Israel from among them; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever; 12. With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever: 13. To him that divided the Red Sea in sunder; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever; 14. And made Israel to pass through the midst of it; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever; 15. But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever: 16. To him that led his people through the wilderness; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever: 17. To him that smote great kings; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever; 18. And slew famous kings; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever: 19. Sihon king of the Amorites; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever; 20. And Og king of Bashan; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever; 21. And gave their land for a heritage; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever; 22. Even a heritage unto Israel his servant; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever: 23. Who remembered us in our low estate; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever; 24. And hath delivered us from our adversaries; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever: 25. Who giveth food to all flesh; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever. 26. Oh give thanks unto the God of heaven; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever. (Psalms 136:1-26, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 1. Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever. 2. Give thanks to the God of gods; for his loving kindness endures forever. 3. Give thanks to the Lord of lords; for his loving kindness endures forever: 4. To him who alone does great wonders; for his loving kindness endures forever: 5. To him who by understanding made the heavens; for his loving kindness endures forever: 6. To him who spread out the earth above the waters; for his loving kindness endures forever: 7. To him who made the great lights; for his loving kindness endures forever: 8. The sun to rule by day; for his loving kindness endures forever; 9. The moon and stars to rule by night; for his loving kindness endures forever: 10. To him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn; for his loving kindness endures forever; 11. And brought out Israel from among them; for his loving kindness endures forever; 12. With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm; for his loving kindness endures forever: 13. To him who divided the Red Sea apart; for his loving kindness endures forever; 14. And made Israel to pass through the middle of it; for his loving kindness endures forever; 15. But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea; for his loving kindness endures forever: 16. To him who led his people through the wilderness; for his loving kindness endures forever: 17. To him who struck great kings; for his loving kindness endures forever; 18. And killed mighty kings; for his loving kindness endures forever: 19. Sihon king of the Amorites; for his loving kindness endures forever; 20. Og king of Bashan; for his loving kindness endures forever; 21. And gave their land as an inheritance; for his loving kindness endures forever; 22. Even a heritage to Israel his servant; for his loving kindness endures forever: 23. Who remembered us in our low estate; for his loving kindness endures forever; 24. And has delivered us from our adversaries; for his loving kindness endures forever: 25. Who gives food to every creature; for his loving kindness endures forever. 26. Oh give thanks to the God of heaven; for his loving kindness endures forever. (Psalms 136:1-26, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 1. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 3. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 4. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. 5. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. 6. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. 7. To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: 8. The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: <sup>to rule: Heb. for the rulings by day</sup> 9. The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. 10. To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: 11. And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: 12. With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. 13. To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: 14. And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: 15. But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. <sup>overthrew: Heb. shaked off</sup> 16. To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. 17. To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: 18. And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: 19. Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever: 20. And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever: 21. And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever: 22. Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever. 23. Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: 24. And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. 25. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. 26. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalms 136:1-26, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 1. Give ye thanks to Jehovah, For good, for to the age [is] His kindness. 2. Give ye thanks to the God of gods, For to the age [is] His kindness. 3. Give ye thanks to the Lord of lords, For to the age [is] His kindness. 4. To Him doing great wonders by Himself alone, For to the age [is] His kindness. 5. To Him making the heavens by understanding, For to the age [is] His kindness. 6. To Him spreading the earth over the waters, For to the age [is] His kindness. 7. To Him making great lights, For to the age [is] His kindness. 8. The sun to rule by day, For to the age [is] His kindness. 9. The moon and stars to rule by night, For to the age [is] His kindness. 10. To Him smiting Egypt in their first-born, For to the age [is] His kindness. 11. And bringing forth Israel from their midst, For to the age [is] His kindness. 12. By a strong hand, and a stretched-out-arm, For to the age [is] His kindness. 13. To Him cutting the sea of Suph into parts, For to the age [is] His kindness, 14. And caused Israel to pass through its midst, For to the age [is] His kindness, 15. And shook out Pharaoh and his force in the sea of Suph, For to the age [is] His kindness. 16. To Him leading His people in a wilderness, For to the age [is] His kindness. 17. To Him smiting great kings, For to the age [is] His kindness. 18. Yea, He doth slay honourable kings, For to the age [is] His kindness. 19. Even Sihon king of the Amorite, For to the age [is] His kindness. 20. And Og king of Bashan, For to the age [is] His kindness. 21. And He gave their land for inheritance, For to the age [is] His kindness. 22. An inheritance to Israel His servant, For to the age [is] His kindness. 23. Who in our lowliness hath remembered us, For to the age [is] His kindness. 24. And He delivereth us from our adversaries, For to the age [is] His kindness. 25. Giving food to all flesh, For to the age [is] His kindness. 26. Give ye thanks to the God of the heavens, For to the age [is] His kindness! (Psalms 136:1-26, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** various (David majority; Asaph, Korah, Moses, Solomon, anonymous)
- **Audience:** worshipping Israel (corporate + individual devotion)
- **Location:** Israel, various periods
- **Time period:** composition spans c. 1400 BC (Moses, Ps 90), c. 400 BC; principal Davidic composition c. 1000 BC

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [H0113 - adon](/codex/h0113-adon/), *adon* (Strong's H113). Also appears in: [Genesis 18.1-15](/codex/genesis-18-1-15/), [Genesis 19](/codex/genesis-19/), [Joshua 5.13-15](/codex/joshua-5-13-15/).
- [H0410 - el](/codex/h0410-el/), *el* (Strong's H410). Also appears in: [Genesis 14.18-20](/codex/genesis-14-18-20/), [Genesis 16.7-13](/codex/genesis-16-7-13/), [Genesis 28](/codex/genesis-28/).
- [H0430 - elohim](/codex/h0430-elohim/), *elohim* (Strong's H430). Also appears in: [Genesis 1.1](/codex/genesis-1-1/), [Genesis 1.2](/codex/genesis-1-2/), [Genesis 1.14-19](/codex/genesis-1-14-19/).
- [H1060 - bechor](/codex/h1060-bechor/), *bechor* (Strong's H1060). Also appears in: [Exodus 12.29](/codex/exodus-12-29/), [Deuteronomy 21](/codex/deuteronomy-21/), [Deuteronomy 25.6](/codex/deuteronomy-25-6/).
- [H1320 - basar](/codex/h1320-basar/), *basar* (Strong's H1320). Also appears in: [Genesis 2.24](/codex/genesis-2-24/), [Genesis 6](/codex/genesis-6/), [Genesis 6.17](/codex/genesis-6-17/).
- [H2617 - hesed](/codex/h2617-hesed/), *hesed* (Strong's H2617). Also appears in: [Genesis 19](/codex/genesis-19/), [Exodus 20.1-17](/codex/exodus-20-1-17/), [Exodus 34.5-6](/codex/exodus-34-5-6/).
- [H2896 - tov](/codex/h2896-tov/), *tov* (Strong's H2896). Also appears in: [Genesis 1.14-19](/codex/genesis-1-14-19/), [Genesis 1.21](/codex/genesis-1-21/), [Genesis 1.24-28](/codex/genesis-1-24-28/).
- [H3068 - YHWH](/codex/h3068-yhwh/), *YHWH* (Strong's H3068). Also appears in: [Genesis 2.4](/codex/genesis-2-4/), [Genesis 2.7](/codex/genesis-2-7/), [Genesis 2.16-17](/codex/genesis-2-16-17/).
- [H5650 - ebed](/codex/h5650-ebed/), *ebed* (Strong's H5650). Also appears in: [Genesis 9.26](/codex/genesis-9-26/), [Genesis 12](/codex/genesis-12/), [Genesis 18.1-15](/codex/genesis-18-1-15/).
- [H5769 - olam](/codex/h5769-olam/), *olam* (Strong's H5769). Also appears in: [Genesis 3](/codex/genesis-3/), [Genesis 6](/codex/genesis-6/), [Genesis 6.4](/codex/genesis-6-4/).
- [H6213 - asah](/codex/h6213-asah/), *asah* (Strong's H6213). Also appears in: [Genesis 1.14-19](/codex/genesis-1-14-19/), [Genesis 1.24-28](/codex/genesis-1-24-28/), [Genesis 1.26](/codex/genesis-1-26/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Concepts:**

- [100 Verses of Compassion and God's Goodness](/codex/100-verses-of-compassion-and-gods-goodness/), via [Psalms 136.1](/codex/psalms-136-1/), [Psalms 136.26](/codex/psalms-136-26/)

**Lexicon:**

- [H1285 - berith](/codex/h1285-berith/)
- [H2617 - hesed](/codex/h2617-hesed/)
- [H5769 - olam](/codex/h5769-olam/), via [Psalms 136.1](/codex/psalms-136-1/)

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