Psalm 135: Our Lord Is Above All Gods

"Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD. Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God… For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth… He 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."

"Who smote the firstborn of Egypt… Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings; Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan… And gave their land for an heritage… The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not… They that make them are like unto them… Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron: bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD."

A mosaic

Psalm 135 is built from other Scripture: v. 1 echoes 113:1 and 134:1; v. 4 echoes Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 7:6 ("peculiar treasure"); v. 7 is almost identical to Jeremiah 10:13; vv. 15–20 repeat Psalm 115:4–11; v. 14 quotes Deuteronomy 32:36. Like Psalm 86, it shows worship composed from Scripture.

Hallel and setting

Psalm 135 begins and ends with Hallelujah (the Greek and Latin put "Alleluia" at its head). It pairs with Psalm 136, which retells the same events of creation, exodus, Sihon and Og; Jewish tradition sometimes counts 135:1 to 136 together in the "Great Hallel." Borrowing from Jeremiah and Deuteronomy suggests a later composition, though the direction of borrowing is not certain.

Heading

Psalm 135 has no heading other than Hallelujah; the Greek and Latin number it 134.