Why read Psalm 135?
Read Psalm 135 to give thanks for God's mercy throughout life. The repeated words about His enduring mercy join creation, deliverance and daily food in one prayer of gratitude.
You can read this psalm when its themes speak to your circumstances, or as part of your regular reading of the Psalter. This explanation draws on the text itself; the psalm is not reserved for one particular need.
Psalm 135 — "Praise ye the Lord, for He is good..." — is the prayer through which the Psalmist sets before God the living of a whole hour of life. It belongs to the Nineteenth Kathisma and has 26 verses, which you will find below in full text.
The text of Psalm 135
1. Praise ye the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever.
2. Praise ye the God of gods, for His mercy endureth for ever.
3. Praise ye the Lord of lords, for His mercy endureth for ever.
4. Who alone doeth great wonders, for His mercy endureth for ever.
5. Who made the heavens with understanding, for His mercy endureth for ever.
6. Who established the earth upon the waters, for His mercy endureth for ever.
7. Who made the great lights, for His mercy endureth for ever.
8. The sun to rule the day, for His mercy endureth for ever.
9. The moon and the stars to rule the night, for His mercy endureth for ever.
10. Who 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 mighty hand and a raised arm, for His mercy endureth for ever.
13. Who divided the Red Sea into two parts, for His mercy endureth for ever.
14. And made Israel pass through the midst of it, for His mercy endureth for ever.
15. And overthrew Pharaoh and his host into the Red Sea, for His mercy endureth for ever.
16. Who led His people through the wilderness, for His mercy endureth for ever.
17. Who smote great kings, for His mercy endureth for ever.
18. And slew mighty kings, for His mercy endureth for ever.
19. Seon king of the Amorites, for His mercy endureth for ever.
20. And Og king of Bashan, for His mercy endureth for ever.
21. And gave their land for an inheritance, for His mercy endureth for ever.
22. An inheritance unto Israel His servant, for His mercy endureth for ever.
23. For in our lowliness the Lord remembered us, for His mercy endureth for ever.
24. And 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. Praise ye the God of heaven, for His mercy endureth for ever.
When Psalm 135 is read
- liturgical thanksgiving — "for His mercy endureth for ever".
- At the end of each psalm, the tradition adds: "Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen."
Neighbouring psalms
Read also
The numbering follows the Orthodox Psalter (Septuagint). The same psalm may have a different number in other Bible editions.
