Psalms 136
The great responsive psalm of God's enduring mercy.
Psalm 136 is built entirely around a repeated refrain, "for his mercy endureth for ever," answering each line about creation and Israel's history, from making the heavens to dividing the Red Sea. It expands on the historical praise of Psalms 135 into a full liturgical recitation.
The hundrid and sixe and thrittithe salm. On the floodis of Babiloyne there we saten, and wepten; while we bithouyten on Syon.
In salewis in the myddil therof; we hangiden vp oure orguns.
For thei that ledden vs prisoners; axiden vs there the wordis of songis. And thei that ledden awei vs seiden; Synge ye to vs an ympne of the songis of Syon.
Hou schulen we singe a songe of the Lord; in an alien lond?
If Y foryete thee, Jerusalem; my riyt hond be youun to foryeting.
Mi tunge cleue to my chekis; if Y bithenke not on thee. If Y purposide not of thee, Jerusalem; in the bigynnyng of my gladnesse.
Lord, haue thou mynde on the sones of Edom; for the dai of Jerusalem. Whiche seien, Anyntische ye, anyntische ye; `til to the foundement ther ynne.
Thou wretchid douyter of Babiloyne; he is blessid, that `schal yelde to thee thi yelding, which thou yeldidist to vs.
He is blessid, that schal holde; and hurtle doun hise litle children at a stoon.