Psalms 135

Chapter context

What is happening in Psalms 135?

prayerpraiselamentkingship

Psalms 135 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as Book V. Psalms is the Bible’s great book of sung prayer, teaching the full range of faithful speech from anguish and repentance to jubilation and doxology. Read this chapter with the wider themes of prayer, praise, and lament in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

¹ Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD. ² Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God, ³ Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant. ⁴ For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. ⁵ For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. ⁶ Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. ⁷ He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries. ⁸ Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast. ⁹ Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants. ¹⁰ Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings; ¹¹ Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan: ¹² And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people. ¹³ Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations. ¹⁴ For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants. ¹⁵ The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. ¹⁶ They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; ¹⁷ They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. ¹⁸ They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. ¹⁹ Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron: ²⁰ Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD. ²¹ Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

Study helps

Glossary

Egypt Place v. 8-9: The land of the Nile and the pyramids, the oldest kingdom of which we have any record, holds a place of great significance in Scripture. Modern identification: Ain Shams.
Amorites People v. 11: Highlanders, or hillmen, the name given to the descendants of one of the sons of Canaan ( Gen. 14:7 ), called Amurra or Amurri in the Assyrian and Egyptian inscriptions.
Bashan Place v. 11: Biblical region. Modern identification: Saham al Jawlan.
Canaan Place v. 11: Biblical region. Modern identification: Canaan.
Levi Person v. 20: Adhesion. (1. ) The third son of Jacob by Leah. The origin of the name is found in Leah’s words ( Gen. 29:34 ).
Jerusalem Place v. 21: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jerusalem.
Zion Place v. 21: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jerusalem.