Geneva Bible Translation NotesPsalms 136

O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his {a} mercy [endureth] for ever.
(a) By this repetition he shows that the least of God's benefits bind us to thanksgiving: but chiefly his mercy, which is principally declared towards his Church.

To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his {b} mercy [endureth] for ever.
(b) This was a common kind of thanksgiving, which the whole people used, when they had received any benefit from God, as in 2Ch 7:6,20:21, meaning that God was not only merciful to their fathers, but also continued the same to their posterity.

And {c} brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
(c) God's merciful providence toward man appears in all his creatures, but chiefly in that he delivered his Church from the clutches of their enemies.

With a strong hand, and with a {d} stretched out arm: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(d) In doing such a work as was never done before, nor that any other could do.

To him which led his people through the {e} wilderness: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(e) Where for the space of forty years he showed infinite and most strange wonders.

And slew {f} famous kings: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
(f) Declaring by it that no power or authority was so dear to him as the love of his Church.

Who remembered us in our {g} low estate: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
(g) In our greatest affliction and slavery when we looked for nothing less than to have had any help.

Who giveth food to all {h} flesh: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(h) Seeing that God provides even for the beasts much more has he care over his.

{i} O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(i) Seeing that all ages have had most plain testimonies of God's benefits.