Psalm 136
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures for ever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his mercy endures for ever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his mercy endures for ever.
4 Who only does great wonders,
for his mercy endures for ever;
5 Who by wisdom made the heavens,
for his mercy endures for ever;
6 Who spread out the earth upon the waters,
for his mercy endures for ever;
7 Who created great lights,
for his mercy endures for ever;
8 The sun to rule the day,
for his mercy endures for ever;
9 The moon and the stars to govern the night,
for his mercy endures for ever.
10 Who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his mercy endures for ever;
11 And brought out Israel from among them,
for his mercy endures for ever;
12 With a mighty hand and a stretched-out arm,
for his mercy endures for ever;
13 Who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his mercy endures for ever;
14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it,
for his mercy endures for ever;
15 But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea,
for his mercy endures for ever;
16 Who led his people through the wilderness,
for his mercy endures for ever.
17 Who struck down great kings,
for his mercy endures for ever;
18 And slew mighty kings,
for his mercy endures for ever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his mercy endures for ever;
20 And Og, the king of Bashan,
for his mercy endures for ever;
21 And gave away their lands for an inheritance,
for his mercy endures for ever;
22 An inheritance for Israel his servant,
for his mercy endures for ever.
23 Who remembered us in our low estate,
for his mercy endures for ever;
24 And delivered us from our enemies,
for his mercy endures for ever;
25 Who gives food to all creatures,
for his mercy endures for ever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his mercy endures for ever.
A Prayer for Young Persons
God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.