PSALM CXXXVI. 1 GIVE praise unto JEHOVAH, for He is goodFor His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 2 Give praise unto the God of gods! For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 3 Give praise unto the Lord of lords For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 4 Unto Him who alone doeth great wondersFor His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 5 Unto Him, who, by wisdom, hath made the heavens— For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 6 Unto Him, who hath spread out the earth above the waters— For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 7 Unto Him, who hath made great lights, For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 8 The sun, to rule by day, For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 9 The moon, and stars, to rule by night For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 10 Unto Him, who smote the first-born of the Egyptians, For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 11 And brought out Israel from among them, For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! CXXXVI. 1 For His &c.-This line, throughout the Psalm, is quite independent of the context. 2 God of gods-One, as being the Creator, infinitely higher than all others, His creatures, who have at any time been regarded as gods. 4 alone-solely by His own power. 6 above the waters-" Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." Exod. xx. 4. 7 lights-i. e. luminaries. In the later books of scripture, the words which, in the original, properly signify "lights," are frequently thus used. In the Mosaic account of the Creation, on the other hand, distinct terms are in the Hebrew used for "light" and "luminary." 10 first-born of the Egyptians— Heb. Egypt in (the persons of) their first-born. 12 With a mighty hand, and with an extended armFor His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 13 Unto Him, who cleft the Red sea into two parts, For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 15 But shook off Pharaoh, and his host, into the Red seaFor His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 16 Unto Him, who led His people through the wildernessFor His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 17 Unto Him, who smote great kings, For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 18 And slew renowned kings, For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 20 And Og, the king of Bashan, For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 21 And gave their land, as an inheritanceFor His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 22 An inheritance unto Israel, His servant For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 23 Who was mindful of us, when we were brought low, For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 24 And rescued us from our enemies For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 25 Who giveth food to all flesh! For His loving-kindness endureth for ever! 26 Give praise unto the God of heaven! 15 shook off-The fate of Pharaoh and his army, when pursuing the Israelites, is compared to that of the swarm of locusts mentioned Exod. x. 19. Compare also Ps. cix. 23. and Exod. xiv. 27. (Margin). PSALM CXXXVII. 1 BY the rivers of Babylon There we sat down, yea, we wept, When we remembered Sion! 2 Upon the willows, in the midst thereof, We hanged our harps. 3 Then did those, who had led us away captive, Require of us a song; Yea those, who had cast us to the ground, Required a song of joy: "Sing us one of the songs of Sion." 4 How could we sing the song of JEHOVAH, In a strange land? 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem! May my right hand forget its skill! 6 May my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, If I do not remember thee If I do not raise Jerusalem, Above my highest joy! 7 Remember, O JEHOVAH! the day of Jerusalem, Against the children of Edom; Who said: "Lay it bare 66 Lay it bare, even to its foundations!" 8 ( daughter of Babylon, who art doomed to destruction! CXXXVII. 2 in the midst thereof-i. e. in the country of Babylon. 3 a song of joy-Heb. joy. 5 forget its skill-Heb. forget. i. e. lose the power of playing upon the harp. 6 tongue cleave-i. e. refuse to perform its office in singing. my highest joy-Heb. the top of my joy. The Psalmist declares, in | the strongest terms, that he will not indulge himself in the pleasure, arising from the sacred music of his country, during her desolation. 7 the day &c.-i. e. the day of her destruction. 8 O daughter of Babylon—i.e. O Babylon. Compare Ps. ix. 14. who art doomed &c.-Heb. who art destroyed. Happy he, who dealeth with thee, As thou hast dealt with us! 9 Happy he, who seizeth thy little ones, And dasheth them against the stones! PSALM CXXXVIII. 1 I WILL praise Thee, with my whole heart; In the presence of the gods, will I hymn Thee. 2 I will bow down, toward Thy holy temple, And praise Thy Name, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth; For Thou hast magnified Thy word, above all Thy Name! 3 In the day when I call, Thou answerest me; THOU dost encourage me, and put strength into my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise Thee, O JEHOVAH! That great is the glory of JEHOVAH! 6 Though JEHOVAH is exalted, yet He regardeth the lowly; But the haughty, He observeth afar off. 7 If I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou revivest me. Dost Thou put forth Thy hand; CXXXVIII. 1 gods-i. e. kings and judges of the earth, so called as being the representatives of God. See Ps. Lxxxii. 1. Note 2. and Ps. cxix. 46. also ver. 4 of this Psalm. 2 Thou hast magnified Thy wordi. e. Thou hast more than fulfilled Thy promise. See Ps, xLviii. 10. 2 above all Thy Name-i. e. (Thou hast gone) infinitely beyond all that has ever been said or imagined of Thee. 3 and put strength into my soulHeb. in my mind strength. 6 regardeth with favour. sure. afar off i. e. with displea 8 JEHOVAH performeth all things for me. O JEHOVAH! Thy loving-kindness is everlasting; PSALM CXXXIX. 1 O JEHOVAH! Thou searchest, and knowest me! 3 THOU siftest me, while I journey, and while I rest, 4 Before a word is upon my tongue, 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me! 7 Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? Whither shall I flee from Thy presence? 8 If I go up to heaven, Thou art there! If I make my bed in the grave, lo, Thou art there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning, |