Psalm 136 is a litany of thanksgiving: every one of its twenty-six verses ends with the refrain “for his mercy endureth for ever.” It tells the story of creation and of Israel’s liberation from Egypt, and Jewish tradition calls it the Great Hallel, sung at the Passover. In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 135. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 136 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
Praise the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Praise ye the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Praise ye the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who alone doth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who made the heavens in understanding: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who established the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who made the great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The sun to rule over the day: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The moon and the stars to rule the night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who smote Egypt with their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever.
With a mighty hand and a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever.
And brought out Israel through the midst thereof: for his mercy endureth for ever.
And overthrew Pharao and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who led his people through the desert: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever.
And slew strong kings: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Sehon king of the Amorrhites: for his mercy endureth for ever.
And Og king of Basan: for his mercy endureth for ever.
And he gave their land for an inheritance: for his mercy endureth for ever.
For an inheritance to his servant Israel: for his mercy endureth for ever.
For he was mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy endureth for ever.
And he redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Give glory to the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 136 or Psalm 135?
The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 135 is Psalm 136 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus: quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- A litany: a leader names God’s deeds and the people answer, “for his mercy endureth for ever.”
- Creation: God made the heavens, the earth, the sun, moon and stars.
- Exodus: he struck Egypt, divided the Red Sea, led his people through the desert and gave them the land.
- Mercy for the lowly: “For he was mindful of us in our affliction… Who giveth food to all flesh.”
- God’s love never ends: the refrain teaches us to see every event of salvation history as mercy.
How the Church uses Psalm 136
- At Passover, as the Great Hallel.
- In the Liturgy of the Hours.
- In hymns: John Milton’s “Let us with a gladsome mind,” written when he was fifteen, is a paraphrase of this psalm. See Catholic hymns.
A prayer with Psalm 136
Written for this page:
Lord, I give you thanks, for you are good: your mercy endures for ever.
You made the heavens and the earth: your mercy endures for ever.
You freed your people and led them home: your mercy endures for ever.
You remembered me in my lowliness and gave me food: your mercy endures for ever. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Great Hallel?
Psalm 136, so called in Jewish tradition and sung at the Passover meal.
Why does every verse of Psalm 136 repeat the same words?
It is a litany: the refrain “for his mercy endureth for ever” was the people’s response to each line.
More psalms and prayers
- Psalm 135 (Praise the name of the Lord)
- Psalm 118
- Psalm 107
- Psalms of thanksgiving
- Psalm 100
- How many psalms are there?
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 135 (136), Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.