Psalm 135: Translation and Notes

Psalm 135
 
1 Praise ye Jah (Hallelujah). Praise the name of Jehovah; praise, ye servants of Jehovah,
2 Standing in Jehovah’s house, in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Praise ye Jah; for Jehovah [is] good; sing psalms to his name, for [it is] pleasant.
4 For Jah hath chosen Jacob for him, Israel for his peculiar treasure,
5 For I know that Jehovah [is] great, and our Lord more than all gods.
6 All that Jehovah delighteth in he doeth in the heavens and in the earth, in the seas and all depths,
7 Who causeth vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; lightnings for the rain he maketh, bringing the wind out of his stores;
8 Who smote Egypt’s firstborn from man to beast;
9 Who sent signs and wonders into thy midst, O Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his servants;
10 Who smote many nations and slew strong kings.
11 (To) Sihon king of the Amorites, and (to) Og king of (the) Bashan, and (to) all the kingdom of Canaan;
12 And gave their land an inheritance, an inheritance to Israel his people.
13 Jehovah, thy name [is] for ever; Jehovah, thy memorial [is] to generation and generation.
14 For Jehovah will judge his people, and for the sake of his servants will repent.
15 Idols of the nations [are] silver and gold, works of man’s hands.
16 A mouth have they, and they speak not; eyes have they, and they see not; ears have they, and they hear not; also there is no breath in their mouth.
17 Like them are those that make them—every one confiding in them.
18 House of Israel, bless ye Jehovah; house of Aaron, bless ye Jehovah;
19 House of Levi, bless ye Jehovah; ye that fear Jehovah, bless Jehovah.
20 Blessed [be] Jehovah out of Zion, inhabiting Jerusalem. Praise ye Jah.
Notes on Psalm 135
“Praise ye Jah.” It is instructive to compare verse 13 with Exodus 3 and 14 with Deuteronomy 32. The psalm anticipates the proximate accomplishment of both to Jah’s praise.