Psalms · 26 verses
Psalms 136
Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.
The chapter
What happens here
Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.
The sentence “His loving devotion endures forever” follows the making of the heavens, the striking of Egypt’s firstborn, the sweeping away of Pharaoh’s army, the slaughter of kings, and the feeding of every creature.
The heavens and their governorsvv. 1–9
The psalm begins with three titles—“the LORD,” “the God of gods,” and “the Lord of lords”—then opens out into creation. The heavens are made by insight, the earth is spread upon the waters, and the great lights are appointed their rather splendid duties: the sun rules the day, while moon and stars govern the night. Every movement is answered by the same refrain, as steady as a clerk with one excellent stamp.
Out of Egypt and through the kingsvv. 10–22
The scale changes from stars to a people. Egypt’s firstborn are struck down, Israel is brought out with “a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,” and the Red Sea is divided so Israel may pass through it. Pharaoh and his army receive the opposite passage, being swept into the sea. Then comes the wilderness, followed by great kings, Sihon, and Og; their land is given as an inheritance to Israel. The refrain remains precisely where it was, which is one of the psalm’s more arresting habits.
Low estate, daily food, and heavenvv. 23–26
The voice turns from the ancient procession to its own low estate: remembrance, freedom from enemies, and food for every creature. The final summons rises to “the God of heaven,” and the refrain closes the psalm as it has accompanied everything else—from making the heavens to filling the mouths of creatures.
The text
Read it
Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.
Ps 136:1Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:2Give thanks to the God of gods. His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:3Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:4He alone does great wonders. His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:5By His insight He made the heavens. His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:6He spread out the earth upon the waters. His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:7He made the great lights—His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:8the sun to rule the day, His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:9the moon and stars to govern the night. His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:10He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:11and brought Israel out from among them His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:12with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:13He divided the Red Sea in two His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:14and led Israel through the midst, His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:15but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:16He led His people through the wilderness. His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:17He struck down great kings His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:18and slaughtered mighty kings—His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:19Sihon king of the Amorites His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:20and Og king of Bashan—His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:21and He gave their land as an inheritance, His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:22a heritage to His servant Israel. His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:23He remembered us in our low estate His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:24and freed us from our enemies. His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:25He gives food to every creature. His loving devotion endures forever.
Ps 136:26Give thanks to the God of heaven! His loving devotion endures forever.
01 — Also here
Who else the chapter reaches
Names written in the English are linked in the text above. These are the ones that are not: an entity the Hebrew or Greek names under a spelling the translation does not use, or one reached only by an assertion about a verse of this chapter.
Named in the Hebrew or Greek somewhere in this chapter, under a form the English renders differently — the registry's Ludim against the translation's Ludites — so there is no word in the sentence to hang the link on.
Reached by an assertion Atlas extracted from a verse of this chapter rather than by a name written in it — a pronoun, a title, or a participant the sentence carries without naming. This layer is model-read and measured at 88.6–90.3% precision, and it is kept separate from the names above for that reason.
02 — Read alongside
Where this is echoed
Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 159 passages were voted onto 26 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.
- 11 Chronicles 16:34Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
- 1Psalms 118:1Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
- 11 Chronicles 16:41With them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, for “His loving devotion endures forever.”
- 1Psalms 107:1Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
- 1Psalms 106:1Hallelujah! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
- 12 Chronicles 20:21Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.”
- 1Ezra 3:11And they sang responsively with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD: “For He is good; for His loving devotion to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid.
- 12 Chronicles 7:3When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.”
- 1Luke 1:50His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
- 4Psalms 72:18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
- 23Isaiah 63:9In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
- 26Psalms 136:1–3Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His loving devotion endures forever.
- 1Jeremiah 33:11the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those bringing thank offerings into the house of the LORD, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good; His loving devotion endures forever.’ For I will restore the land from captivity as in former times, says the LORD.
- 5Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
- 23Luke 1:48For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
- 12 Chronicles 7:6The priests stood at their posts, as did the Levites with the musical instruments of the LORD, which King David had made for giving thanks to the LORD and with which David had offered praise, saying, “For His loving devotion endures forever.” Across from the Levites, the priests sounded trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.
Onward