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Psalm chapter 135

English Standard Version

1 Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord, give praise, O servants of the Lord, 2who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God! 3Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant! 4For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession. 5For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. 7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. 8He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; 9who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants; 10 who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings, 11 Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, 12and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel. 13 Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. 14 For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. 15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 16They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; 17they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. 18Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. 19 O house of Israel, bless the Lord! O house of Aaron, bless the Lord! 20O house of Levi, bless the Lord! You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! 21Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!
New International Version

New American Standard Bible

1 Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord; Praise Him, you servants of the Lord, 2You who stand in the house of the Lord, In the courtyards of the house of our God! 3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is lovely. 4For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel as His own possession. 5For I know that the Lord is great And that our Lord is above all gods. 6Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, In heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all the ocean depths. 7 He causes the mist to ascend from the ends of the earth, He makes lightning for the rain; He brings forth the wind from His treasuries. 8 He struck the firstborn of Egypt, Both human firstborn and animal. 9 He sent signs and wonders into your midst, Egypt, Upon Pharaoh and all his servants. 10 He struck many nations And brought death to mighty kings, 11Sihon, king of the Amorites, Og, king of Bashan, And all the kingdoms of Canaan; 12And He gave their land as an inheritance, An inheritance to His people Israel. 13Your name, Lord, is everlasting, The mention of You, Lord, is throughout all generations. 14For the Lord will judge His people And will have compassion on His servants. 15The idols of the nations are nothing but silver and gold, The work of human hands. 16They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see; 17They have ears, but they do not hear, Nor is there any breath at all in their mouths. 18Those who make them will become like them, Yes, everyone who trusts in them. 19House of Israel, bless the Lord; House of Aaron, bless the Lord; 20House of Levi, bless the Lord; You who revere the Lord, bless the Lord. 21Blessed be the Lord from Zion, Who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

King James Version

New King James Version

1Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord; Praise Him, O you servants of the Lord! 2 You who stand in the house of the Lord, In the courts of the house of our God, 3Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant. 4For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure. 5For I know that the Lord is great, And our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatever the Lord pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places. 7 He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries. 8 He destroyed the firstborn of Egypt, Both of man and beast. 9 He sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, O Egypt, Upon Pharaoh and all his servants. 10 He defeated many nations And slew mighty kings— 11Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, And all the kingdoms of Canaan— 12 And gave their land as a heritage, A heritage to Israel His people. 13 Your name, O Lord, endures forever, Your fame, O Lord, throughout all generations. 14 For the Lord will judge His people, And He will have compassion on His servants. 15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. 16They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; 17They have ears, but they do not hear; Nor is there any breath in their mouths. 18Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them. 19 Bless the Lord, O house of Israel! Bless the Lord, O house of Aaron! 20Bless the Lord, O house of Levi! You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! 21Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, Who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!

What does Psalm chapter 135 mean?

The "house of the LORD" is the tabernacle (Exodus 26:1) and later the temple (1 Kings 6:1) where the ark was kept (Exodus 25:22). The servants there are from the tribe of Levi (Numbers 1:50; Leviticus 8:35). The psalmist calls on these temple workers to worship the Lord God. A primary reason for this praise is that God chose the nation of Israel—descendants of Jacob (Genesis 32:28)—to be His people (Psalm 135:1–4).

Unlike false gods, the Lord is the only Creator (Genesis 1:1). His power is seen in nature such as the various forms of weather. Every part of creation is subject to His sovereignty: the Lord's unstoppable authority and power (Psalm 135:5–7).

God's supremacy is also shown in Israel's victories over earthly kings and nations. God freed Israel from Egypt (Exodus 3:20). This included the death of Egypt's firstborn (Exodus 12:29–30). Because of the Lord's power (Deuteronomy 8:17–18), Israel was able to enter into Canaan (Deuteronomy 7:1–2) to take the land and deliver God's judgment on evil (Deuteronomy 9:4–5). These are worthy reasons to praise Him (Psalm 135:8–12).

The Lord is also greater than any other being, real or imaginary. His reputation will last forever because of what He does for His chosen people (Psalm 78:2–4). Manmade idols are just objects. Unlike the living God (Joshua 3:10), idols cannot move, speak, or act. Trusting in them is foolish (Psalm 115:4–8). Those who worship their own creations will eventually be just as lifeless as those objects (Psalm 135:13–18).

All of Israel should celebrate the Lord with praise. Israel was the name given to Jacob (Genesis 32:28) who became the father of Israel's twelve tribes, including Levi (Genesis 35:23–26). Priests come from the line of Aaron (Exodus 40:13–15) who was of the tribe of Levi (Numbers 26:59). Zion and Jerusalem are names for the same place: the center of Israel's government and spiritual life (2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Kings 8:1). Worship is an expression of proper "fear" of God (Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 112:1) that recognizes Him as Lord and responds accordingly (Psalm 135:19–21).
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