Praise to Jehovah because of His mercy that has blessed, and will bless, for ever! 

Every verse has this repeated chorus, “For His mercy endureth for ever.” Such a peculiarity is used to enforce upon our unappreciative minds, that all our benefits flow from everlasting mercy. They are covenant mercies that are sure and unceasing, and are ours because God is good. They are daily repeated to us. 

We are told in the first three verses, and the last, to give thanks. The reasons being, what He is (vv. 1-3); what He is able to do (v. 4); His creative genius and power (vv. 5-9); His redemption from bondage (vv. 10-15); His providential dealings (vv. 16-22); His grace in calamity (vv. 23-24); His goodness to this world (v. 25); and that He is the God of Heaven (v. 26). 

Our God is also all these to us, but only because we know His redemptive mercy through Christ Jesus.

Psalm 136 - First Version

 1  Give thanks to God, for good is he:
       for mercy hath he ever.
 2  Thanks to the God of gods give ye:
       for his grace faileth never.

 3  Thanks give the Lord of lords unto:
       for mercy hath he ever.
 4  Who only wonders great can do:
       for his grace faileth never.

 5  Who by his wisdom made heav'ns high:
       for mercy hath he ever.
 6  Who stretch'd the earth above the sea:
       for his grace faileth never.

 7  To him that made the great lights shine:
       for mercy hath he ever.
 8  The sun to rule till day decline:
       for his grace faileth never.

 9  The moon and stars to rule by night:
       for mercy hath he ever.
10  Who Egypt's first-born kill'd outright:
       for his grace faileth never.

11  And Isr'el brought from Egypt land:
       for mercy hath he ever.
12  With stretch'd-out arm, and with strong hand:
       for his grace faileth never.

13  By whom the Red sea parted was:
       for mercy hath he ever.
14  And through its midst made Isr'el pass:
       for his grace faileth never.

15  But Phar'oh and his host did drown:
       for mercy hath he ever.
16  Who through the desert led his own:
       for his grace faileth never.

17  To him great kings who overthrew:
       for he hath mercy ever.
18  Yea, famous kings in battle slew:
       for his grace faileth never.

19  Ev'n Sihon king of Amorites:
       for he hath mercy ever.
20  And Og the king of Bashanites:
       for his grace faileth never.

21  Their land in heritage to have:
       (for mercy hath he ever.)
22  His servant Isr'el right he gave:
       for his grace faileth never.

23  In our low state who on us thought:
       for he hath mercy ever.
24  And from our foes our freedom wrought:
       for his grace faileth never.

25  Who doth all flesh with food relieve:
       for he hath mercy ever.
26  Thanks to the God of heaven give:
       for his grace faileth never.