Psalms 135

Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.

1Praise the LORD! Praise his name. You who serve the LORD, praise him.

2Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God,

2You stand in the LORD's house. You stand in the yards around God's house.

3Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.

3Praise the LORD, because the LORD is good. Sing songs to his name. It is a happy thing to do.

4For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

4The LORD picked Jacob to be his own. He picked Israel to be his special treasure.

Note"Peculiar treasure" in the old wording does not mean odd or strange. It means something special that belongs to one owner.

5For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.

5I know the LORD is great. Our Lord is greater than every other god.

6Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

6The LORD does whatever he wants. He does it in the heavens, on the earth, in the seas, and deep down below.

7He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

7He makes clouds rise from far away places. He makes lightning come with the rain. He brings out wind from his storerooms.

8Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.

8He struck down the oldest sons in Egypt. He struck the firstborn animals too.

9Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.

9Egypt, he sent signs and wonders right among you. He sent them against Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and all his helpers.

10Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;

10He struck down many great nations. He killed strong kings.

11Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:

11He struck Sihon, king of the Amorites. He struck Og, king of Bashan. He struck all the kingdoms of Canaan.

12And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.

12He gave their land away as a gift. He gave it to his people Israel to keep.

13Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.

13LORD, your name lasts forever. People will remember you for all time.

14For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.

14The LORD will stand up for his people. He will be kind to those who serve him.

NoteThe old wording says God will "repent himself" about his servants. Here it means he will feel sorry for them and be kind, not that he did something wrong.

15The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

15The idols of other nations are made of silver and gold. People made them with their own hands.

16They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;

16They have mouths, but they cannot talk. They have eyes, but they cannot see.

17They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.

17They have ears, but they cannot hear. There is no breath in their mouths.

18They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.

18The people who make them end up like them. So does everyone who trusts them.

19Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:

19Family of Israel, praise the LORD! Family of Aaron, praise the LORD!

NoteThe family of Aaron and the family of Levi were the groups who worked in God's house and helped people worship.

20Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.

20Family of Levi, praise the LORD! All of you who honor the LORD, praise him!

21Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

21Praise the LORD from Zion, the hill in Jerusalem where he lives with his people. Praise the LORD!