New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Psalm 135
1
Praise the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. You who serve the Lord, praise him.
2
You who serve in the house of the Lord, praise him. You who serve in the courtyards of the temple of our God, praise him.
3
Praise the Lord, because he is good. Sing praise to his name, because that is pleasant.
4
The Lord has chosen the people of Jacob to be his own. He has chosen Israel to be his special treasure.
5
I know that the Lord is great. I know that our Lord is greater than all gods.
6
The Lord does anything he wants to do in the heavens and on the earth. He does it even in the deepest parts of the oceans.
7
He makes clouds rise from one end of the earth to the other. He sends lightning with the rain. He brings the wind out of his storerooms.
8
He killed the oldest son of each family in Egypt. He struck down the oldest males that were born to people and animals.
9
He did miraculous signs in Egypt. He did wonders against Pharaoh and everyone who served him.
10
He destroyed many nations. He killed mighty kings.
11
He killed Sihon, the king of the Amorites, and Og, the king of Bashan. He killed all of the kings of Canaan.
12
He gave their land as a gift to his people Israel.
13
Lord, your name continues forever. Lord, your fame will last for all time to come.
14
When the Lord hands down his sentence, it will be in his people's favor. He will show deep concern for those who serve him.
15
The statues of the gods of the nations are made of silver and gold. They are made by the hands of men.
16
They have mouths, but they can't speak. They have eyes, but they can't see.
17
They have ears, but they can't hear. They have mouths, but they can't breathe.
18
Those who make statues of gods will be like them. So will all those who trust in them.
19
People of Israel, praise the Lord. Priests of Aaron, praise the Lord.
20
Tribe of Levi, praise the Lord. You who have respect for the Lord, praise him.
21
Give praise to the Lord in Zion. Give praise to the One who lives in Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.
Summary of Psalm 135
Psalm 135 is a large hymn of praise that remembers God's character, His power over creation, His actions in Israel's history, and His superiority over idols. The chapter begins with repeated calls for God's servants to praise Him. Those who serve in the LORD's house and those who worship in His courts are reminded that praising God should be a central part of their lives.
The psalm explains that the LORD deserves praise because He is good and because His name is worthy of honor. It then reminds Israel that God chose Jacob and Israel as His special people. Their relationship with God is not presented as something accidental. It is part of the covenant history that defines Israel's identity.
The writer then emphasizes God's absolute authority. Whatever the LORD desires, He is able to accomplish in heaven, on earth, in the seas, and in the deepest places. The psalm even uses the weather as evidence of God's power. Clouds, rain, lightning, and wind are all presented as being under His control.
The focus then turns to Israel's history. The psalm remembers the Exodus from Egypt, especially God's judgment against Pharaoh and the Egyptians. It then recalls God's defeat of powerful kings, including Sihon and Og, and His giving of their lands to Israel as an inheritance.
These historical memories are important because they remind Israel that God has already demonstrated His power. The nation does not need to wonder whether the LORD is capable of helping His people. His past actions provide evidence of His strength and faithfulness.
The psalm then contrasts the living LORD with the idols of other nations. These idols may be made from valuable silver and gold, but they are still human-made objects. They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see, and ears but cannot hear. They cannot respond to prayers or rescue those who depend on them.
The warning is especially strong: those who make and trust in idols will become like them. The message is that people become shaped by whatever they choose to trust. If they trust something lifeless and powerless, they will ultimately experience the emptiness of that choice.
The final section returns to praise. Israel is called to bless the LORD, followed by the house of Aaron, the Levites, and all those who worship Him in Zion.
Overall, Psalm 135 is a powerful reminder that the LORD is the living and sovereign God who controls creation, acts in history, protects His people, and deserves worship. The chapter encourages Israel to remember what God has already done and to reject every substitute for Him. It ends where it began—with a call to praise the LORD.
The psalm explains that the LORD deserves praise because He is good and because His name is worthy of honor. It then reminds Israel that God chose Jacob and Israel as His special people. Their relationship with God is not presented as something accidental. It is part of the covenant history that defines Israel's identity.
The writer then emphasizes God's absolute authority. Whatever the LORD desires, He is able to accomplish in heaven, on earth, in the seas, and in the deepest places. The psalm even uses the weather as evidence of God's power. Clouds, rain, lightning, and wind are all presented as being under His control.
The focus then turns to Israel's history. The psalm remembers the Exodus from Egypt, especially God's judgment against Pharaoh and the Egyptians. It then recalls God's defeat of powerful kings, including Sihon and Og, and His giving of their lands to Israel as an inheritance.
These historical memories are important because they remind Israel that God has already demonstrated His power. The nation does not need to wonder whether the LORD is capable of helping His people. His past actions provide evidence of His strength and faithfulness.
The psalm then contrasts the living LORD with the idols of other nations. These idols may be made from valuable silver and gold, but they are still human-made objects. They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see, and ears but cannot hear. They cannot respond to prayers or rescue those who depend on them.
The warning is especially strong: those who make and trust in idols will become like them. The message is that people become shaped by whatever they choose to trust. If they trust something lifeless and powerless, they will ultimately experience the emptiness of that choice.
The final section returns to praise. Israel is called to bless the LORD, followed by the house of Aaron, the Levites, and all those who worship Him in Zion.
Overall, Psalm 135 is a powerful reminder that the LORD is the living and sovereign God who controls creation, acts in history, protects His people, and deserves worship. The chapter encourages Israel to remember what God has already done and to reject every substitute for Him. It ends where it began—with a call to praise the LORD.