Praise the Lord’s Wonderful Works. Vanity of Idols.
135 Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)
Praise the name of the Lord;
Praise Him, O servants of the Lord (priests, Levites),
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You who stand in the house of the Lord,
In the courts of the house of our God,
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Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
Sing praises to His name, for it is gracious and lovely.
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For the Lord has chosen [the descendants of] Jacob for Himself,
Israel for His own special treasure and possession.(A)
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For I know that the Lord is great
And that our Lord is above all gods.
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Whatever the Lord pleases, He does,
In the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all deeps—
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Who causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth;
Who makes lightning for the rain,
Who brings the wind from His storehouses;
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Who struck the firstborn of Egypt,
Both of man and animal;(B)
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Who sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt,
Upon Pharaoh and all his servants.
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Who struck many nations
And killed mighty kings,
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Sihon, king of the Amorites,
Og, king of Bashan,
And all the kingdoms of Canaan;
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And He gave their land as a heritage,
A heritage to Israel His people.
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Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
Your fame and remembrance, O Lord, [endures] throughout all generations.
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For the Lord will judge His people
And He will have compassion on His servants [revealing His mercy].(C)
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The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.
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They have mouths, but they do not speak;
They have eyes, but they do not see;
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They have ears, but they do not hear,
Nor is there any breath in their mouths.
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Those who make idols are like them [absolutely worthless—spiritually blind, deaf, and powerless];
So is everyone who trusts in and relies on them.(D)
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O house of Israel, bless and praise the Lord [with gratitude];
O house of Aaron, bless the Lord;
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O house of Levi, bless the Lord;
You who fear the Lord [and worship Him with obedience], bless the Lord [with grateful praise]!(E)
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Blessed be the Lord from Zion,
Who dwells [with us] at Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)