Saturday, February 15, 2014

Psalm 135: God the creator (verses 5-9)

Pietro Perugino 

The second section of Psalm 135 praises God as the creator of all things.

In Psalm 113, his status as creator is simply asserted, in verse 24, which includes the phrase 'qui fecit cælum, et terram' (who made heaven and earth).  Psalm 135 expands on this, providing us with a summary of the Genesis creation story.

On these verses, Pope Benedict XVI commented:

"...As sung in Psalm 19[18]:  "The heavens proclaim the glory of God and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands. Day unto day takes up the story and night unto night makes known the message" (vv. 2-3). Thus, a divine message exists, secretly engraved in creation and a sign of the hesed, the loving fidelity of God who gives his creatures being and life, water and food, light and time. 

A clear vision is essential in order to contemplate this divine revelation, recalling the recommendation of the Book of Wisdom that invites us to recognize "the greatness and the beauty of created things, [whose] original author, by analogy, is seen" (Wis 13: 5; cf. Rom 1: 20). Prayerful praise, therefore, flows from contemplation of the "marvellous works" (cf. Ps 136[135]: 4) that God has wrought in creation that are transformed into a joyful hymn of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. Consequently, we rise from the works of creation to the greatness of God and to his loving mercy. This is what we are taught by the Fathers of the Church, in whose voices resound the constant Christian Tradition. 

Thus, St Basil the Great, in one of the initial pages of his first homily on the Hexaemeron, where he comments on the creation narrative in the first chapter of Genesis, pauses to consider God's wise action and is brought to recognize God's goodness as the dynamic centre of creation. The following are several sayings from the long reflection of the Holy Bishop of Caesarea of Cappadocia: 

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth'. My words give way, overwhelmed by wonder at this thought" (1, 2, 1:  Sulla Genesi [Omelie sull'Esamerone], Milan, 1990, pp. 9, 11)."

In fact, even if some, "deceived by the atheism they bore within them, imagined that the universe lacked guidance and order, at the mercy as it were of chance", the sacred author instead "immediately enlightened our minds with the Name of God at the beginning of the account, saying:  "In the beginning... God created...'. And what beauty there is in this order!" (1, 2, 3:  ibid., p. 11). "So if the world has a beginning and has been created, it seeks the One who gave it being and is its Creator.... 

Blessed nature, goodness exempt from envy, the one who is the object of love to all reasonable beings, beauty in addition to everything else that is desirable, the principle of beings, the source of life, the light of the mind, inaccessible wisdom, in brief, it is he who "in the beginning created the heavens and the earth'" (1, 2, 6-7:  ibid., p. 13)." 

5
V
Qui fecit cælos in intelléctu: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
JH
Qui fecit caelos in sapientia quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.

τῷ ποιήσαντι τοὺς οὐρανοὺς ἐν συνέσει ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

5  Qui (who) fecit (he made) cælos (the heavens) in intelléctu (with wisdom/understanding).

caelum, i, n., or caeli, orum, m.  heaven, the abode of God; the heavens as opposed to the earth; the air;
intellectus, us, m.  understanding, insight.

DR
Who made the heavens in understanding: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton
To him who made the heavens by understanding; for his mercy endures for ever. 
MD
Who made the heavens in wisdom, for his mercy endures forever
RSV
to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures for ever
Cover
who by his excellent wisdom made the heavens (for his mercy endureth for ever);
Knox
eternal his mercy, whose wisdom made the heavens;



6
V/JH
Qui firmávit terram super aquas: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
NV
Qui expandit terram super aquas, quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.

τῷ στερεώσαντι τὴν γῆν ἐπὶ τῶν ὑδάτων ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ 

6  Qui (who) firmávit (he established/laid out) terram (the earth) super (above) aquas (the waters)....

Bird notes that the Hebrews verb means beat out or spread out like as a layer, suggesting an image of the earth as spread out n the waters of the great Deep.

firmo, avi, atum, are  to strengthen, make firm or strong; establish, make stable or firm


DR
Who established the earth above the waters: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton
To him who established the earth on the waters; for his mercy endures for ever.
MD
Who established the earth on the waters, for his mercy endureth forever
RSV
to him who spread out the earth upon the waters, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Cover
who laid out the earth above the waters (for his mercy endureth for ever);
Knox
eternal his mercy, who poised earth upon the floods. 


7
V/NV/JH
Qui fecit luminária magna: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.

τῷ ποιήσαντι φῶτα μεγάλα μόνῳ ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

Qui (who) fecit (made) luminária (the lights) magna (great)...

luminare is n a light


DR
Who made the great lights: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton
To him who alone made great lights; for his mercy endures for ever. 
MD
Who made the great luminaries, for his mercy endureth forever
Cover
who hath made great lights (for his mercy endureth for ever),

8
V/JH
Solem in potestátem diéi : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
NV
solem, ut praeesset diei, quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius;

τὸν ἥλιον εἰς ἐξουσίαν τῆς ἡμέρας ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ 

Solem (the sun) in potestátem (in dominion/power [to rule over]) diéi (of the day).. 

sol, solis, m., the sun.
potestas, atis, f power, strength, might, dominion, the Powers
dies, ei, m. and f fem.   a day, the natural day


DR
The sun to rule the day: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton
The sun to rule by day; for his mercy endures for ever.
MD
The sun as ruler of the day, for his mercy endureth forever
Cover
the sun to rule the day (for his mercy endureth for ever),
Knox
made the sun to rule by day, his mercy is eternal;


9
V/JH
Lunam et stellas in potestátem noctis: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
NV
lunam et stellas, ut praeessent nocti, quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.

τὴν σελήνην καὶ τὰ ἄστρα εἰς ἐξουσίαν τῆς νυκτός ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

Lunam (the moon) et (and) stellas (the stars) in potestátem (in power) noctis (of the night)

luna, ae, f. the moon.
stella, ae,f. a star.
potestas, atis, f power, strength, might, dominion, the Powers
nox, noctis, f.  night.


DR
The moon and the stars to rule the night: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton
The moon and the stars to rule the night; for his mercy endures for ever.
MD
The moon and the stars as rulers of the night, for his mercy endureth forever
Cover
the moon and the stars to govern the night (for his mercy endureth for ever);

Psalm 135
Vulgate
Douay-Rheims
Alleluja.

1 Confitémini Dómino, quóniam bonus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
Praise the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.
2  Confitémini Deo deórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
2 Praise the God of gods: for his mercy endures for ever.
3  Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
3 Praise the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever.
4  Qui facit mirabília magna solus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
4 Who alone does great wonders: for his mercy endures for ever.
5  Qui fecit cælos in intelléctu: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
5 Who made the heavens in understanding: for his mercy endures for ever.
6  Qui firmávit terram super aquas: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
6 Who established the earth above the waters: for his mercy endures for ever.
7  Qui fecit luminária magna: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
7 Who made the great lights: for his mercy endures for ever.
8  Solem in potestátem diéi : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus
8 The sun to rule the day: for his mercy endures for ever.
9  Lunam et stellas in potestátem noctis: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
9 The moon and the stars to rule the night: for his mercy endures for ever.
10  Qui percússit Ægyptum cum primogénitis eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
10 Who smote Egypt with their firstborn: for his mercy endures for ever.
11  Qui edúxit Israël de médio eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
11 Who brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endures for ever.
12  In manu poténti, et bráchio excélso : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
12 With a mighty hand and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endures for ever.
13  Qui divísit Mare Rubrum in divisiónes: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
13 Who divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endures for ever.
14  Et edúxit Israël per médium ejus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
14 And brought out Israel through the midst thereof: for his mercy endures for ever.
15  Et excussit Pharaónem, et virtútem ejus in Mari Rubro: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
15 And overthrew Pharao and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endures for ever.

16  Qui tradúxit pópulum suum per desértum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
16 Who led his people through the desert: for his   mercy endures for ever.
17  Qui percússit reges magnos: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
17 Who smote great kings: for his mercy endures for ever.
18  Et occídit reges fortes : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
18 And slew strong kings: for his mercy endures for ever.
19  Sehon, regem Amorrhæórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
19 Sehon king of the Amorrhites: for his mercy endures for ever.
20  Et Og, regem Basan: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
20 And Og king of Basan: for his mercy endures for ever.
21  Et dedit terram eórum hereditátem : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
21 And he gave their land for an inheritance: for his mercy endures for ever.
22  Hereditátem Israël, servo suo : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
22 For an inheritance to his servant Israel: for his mercy endures for ever.
23  Quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
23 For he was mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy endures for ever
24  Et redémit nos ab inimícis nostris: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
24 And he redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endures for ever.
25  Qui dat escam omni carni: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus
25 Who gives food to all flesh: for his mercy endures for ever.
26  Confitémini Deo cæli: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
26 Give glory to the God of heaven: for his mercy endures for ever.
27  Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
Give glory to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever


The next part in this series of notes can be found here.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Psalm 135: On the attributes of God (v1-4)



The first four verses of Psalm 135 call on us to praise God in and of himself.    

In the opening book of his Summa Theologica, St Thomas Aquinas provides an analysis of the attributes of God.  There are a number of different summaries around of them, but one common one is that God: is spiritual, not material; transcendent (wholly other compared to us) and immanent (working within us and human affairs); good; exists absolutely; is eternal; infinite; intelligent; one; omniscient and omnipotent.

It is worth keeping this list in front of you as you go through Psalm 135, because it, together with Psalms 113&134, provides Scriptural citations for pretty much all of them.  The whole psalm, of course, is a paean to his immanence and transcendence, but do go back and reread all three of the psalms against that list.  

The verses

Goodness: God's goodness, reflected in his work of creation and redemption, is the overriding theme of all three of these psalms, but Psalm 135 is the only one of three to explicitly start from this point, saying:

1.Confitémini (give praise) Dómino (to the Lord), quóniam (because) [est he is] bonus (good).

Existence: Psalm 113 and 134 both assert his existence (eg 'our God is heaven', Psalm 113:11), and reject the claims of false idols.   Psalm 135 similarly affirms his vast superiority to all other claimants to the title of god:

2. Confitémini (give praise) Deo (to the God) deórum (of gods)

...3. Dómino (to the Lord) dominórum (of Lords).

All of these attributes apply equally, of course, to all the persons of God.  Nonetheless, St Robert Bellarmine suggests that we can particularly think of verse 1 as referring to God the Father, verse 2 to the Son, and verse 3 to the holy Spirit.

Omnipotent:  Psalm 135 adds on to this insistence on his unique existence his great power:

4. Qui (who) facit (he makes) mirabília (wonders) magna (great) solus (alone).  

Psalms 113 and 134 both add in, on this theme 'ómnia quæcúmque vóluit, fecit' (all that he wishes, he does).

Translation comparisons

And for those wanting to compare different versions of the text, here are the verses with the Latin Vulgate (V), Neo-Vulgate (NV), St Jerome's 'from the Hebrew' Latin (JH) and Septuagint, together with vocabulary notes from the Latin, and a selection of English translations.

1
V/NV/JH
Confitémini dómino, quóniam bonus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.

ἐξομολογεῖσθε τῷ κυρίῳ ὅτι χρηστός ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

confiteor, fessus sum, eri 2 to praise, give thanks; to confess, acknowledge one's guilt.
bonus, a, um, good;  pleasant; upright  good things, possessions, prosperity.
quoniam, conj.,  for, because, since, seeing that, whereas
in aeternum forever
misericordia, ae, mercy, kindness, favor, compassion, loving-kindness.

Douay-Rheims (DR)
Praise the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton (from the Septuagint) 
Give thanks to the Lord: for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever. 
RSV
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever.
Coverdale
Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious (and his mercy endureth for ever).
Knox
Give thanks to the Lord for his goodness, his mercy is eternal;


2
V/NV/JH
Confitémini Deo deórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.

ἐξομολογεῖσθε τῷ θεῷ τῶν θεῶν ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

DR
Praise the God of gods: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton
Give thanks to the God of gods; for his mercy endures forever. 
Knox
give thanks to the God of gods, his mercy is eternal; 


3
V/NV/JH
Confitémini dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.

ἐξομολογεῖσθε τῷ κυρίῳ τῶν κυρίων ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ
  
DR
Praise the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton
Give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever.
Cover
O thank the Lord of all lords (for his mercy endureth forever),


4
V/NV/JH
Qui facit mirabília magna solus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.

τῷ ποιοῦντι θαυμάσια μεγάλα μόνῳ ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

mirabilis, e wonderful, marvelous;  subst., mirabilia, mm, wonders, wonderful works, marvellous things.
magnus, a, um, great, mighty; elders
solus, a, um, alone, only

DR
Who alone does great wonders: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton
To him who along has wrought great wonders: for his mercy endures for ever. 
Cover
who only doeth great wonders (for his mercy endureth for ever);
Knox
Eternal his mercy, who does great deeds as none else can;

Psalm 135
Vulgate
Douay-Rheims
Alleluja.

1 Confitémini Dómino, quóniam bonus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
Praise the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.
2  Confitémini Deo deórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
2 Praise the God of gods: for his mercy endures for ever.
3  Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
3 Praise the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever.
4  Qui facit mirabília magna solus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
4 Who alone does great wonders: for his mercy endures for ever.
5  Qui fecit cælos in intelléctu: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
5 Who made the heavens in understanding: for his mercy endures for ever.
6  Qui firmávit terram super aquas: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
6 Who established the earth above the waters: for his mercy endures for ever.
7  Qui fecit luminária magna: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
7 Who made the great lights: for his mercy endures for ever.
8  Solem in potestátem diéi : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus
8 The sun to rule the day: for his mercy endures for ever.
9  Lunam et stellas in potestátem noctis: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
9 The moon and the stars to rule the night: for his mercy endures for ever.
10  Qui percússit Ægyptum cum primogénitis eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
10 Who smote Egypt with their firstborn: for his mercy endures for ever.
11  Qui edúxit Israël de médio eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
11 Who brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endures for ever.
12  In manu poténti, et bráchio excélso : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
12 With a mighty hand and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endures for ever.
13  Qui divísit Mare Rubrum in divisiónes: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
13 Who divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endures for ever.
14  Et edúxit Israël per médium ejus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
14 And brought out Israel through the midst thereof: for his mercy endures for ever.
15  Et excussit Pharaónem, et virtútem ejus in Mari Rubro: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
15 And overthrew Pharao and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endures for ever.

16  Qui tradúxit pópulum suum per desértum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
16 Who led his people through the desert: for his   mercy endures for ever.
17  Qui percússit reges magnos: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
17 Who smote great kings: for his mercy endures for ever.
18  Et occídit reges fortes : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
18 And slew strong kings: for his mercy endures for ever.
19  Sehon, regem Amorrhæórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
19 Sehon king of the Amorrhites: for his mercy endures for ever.
20  Et Og, regem Basan: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
20 And Og king of Basan: for his mercy endures for ever.
21  Et dedit terram eórum hereditátem : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
21 And he gave their land for an inheritance: for his mercy endures for ever.
22  Hereditátem Israël, servo suo : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
22 For an inheritance to his servant Israel: for his mercy endures for ever.
23  Quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
23 For he was mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy endures for ever
24  Et redémit nos ab inimícis nostris: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
24 And he redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endures for ever.
25  Qui dat escam omni carni: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus
25 Who gives food to all flesh: for his mercy endures for ever.
26  Confitémini Deo cæli: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
26 Give glory to the God of heaven: for his mercy endures for ever.
27  Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
Give glory to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever


And for the next set of notes on the verses of Psalm 135, continue on here.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Introduction to Psalm 135

Allegory of the Holy Trinity, Perugia

Psalm 135, the second psalm of Vespers on Wednesday in the Benedictine Office,  is known in Jewish tradition as the 'Great Hallel', and is recited at the Passover meal after the "Lesser Hallel" (Psalms 112-117). It was almost certainly also used antiphonally in Temple worship.

Psalm 135 (136) – Confitemini Domino
Vulgate
Douay-Rheims
Alleluja.

1 Confitémini Dómino, quóniam bonus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
Praise the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.
2  Confitémini Deo deórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
2 Praise the God of gods: for his mercy endures for ever.
3  Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
3 Praise the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever.
4  Qui facit mirabília magna solus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
4 Who alone does great wonders: for his mercy endures for ever.
5  Qui fecit cælos in intelléctu: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
5 Who made the heavens in understanding: for his mercy endures for ever.
6  Qui firmávit terram super aquas: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
6 Who established the earth above the waters: for his mercy endures for ever.
7  Qui fecit luminária magna: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
7 Who made the great lights: for his mercy endures for ever.
8  Solem in potestátem diéi : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus
8 The sun to rule the day: for his mercy endures for ever.
9  Lunam et stellas in potestátem noctis: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
9 The moon and the stars to rule the night: for his mercy endures for ever.
10  Qui percússit Ægyptum cum primogénitis eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
10 Who smote Egypt with their firstborn: for his mercy endures for ever.
11  Qui edúxit Israël de médio eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
11 Who brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endures for ever.
12  In manu poténti, et bráchio excélso : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
12 With a mighty hand and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endures for ever.
13  Qui divísit Mare Rubrum in divisiónes: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
13 Who divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endures for ever.
14  Et edúxit Israël per médium ejus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
14 And brought out Israel through the midst thereof: for his mercy endures for ever.
15  Et excussit Pharaónem, et virtútem ejus in Mari Rubro: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
15 And overthrew Pharao and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endures for ever.

16  Qui tradúxit pópulum suum per desértum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
16 Who led his people through the desert: for his mercy endures for ever.
17  Qui percússit reges magnos: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
17 Who smote great kings: for his mercy endures for ever.
18  Et occídit reges fortes : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
18 And slew strong kings: for his mercy endures for ever.
19  Sehon, regem Amorrhæórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
19 Sehon king of the Amorrhites: for his mercy endures for ever.
20  Et Og, regem Basan: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
20 And Og king of Basan: for his mercy endures for ever.
21  Et dedit terram eórum hereditátem : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
21 And he gave their land for an inheritance: for his mercy endures for ever.
22  Hereditátem Israël, servo suo : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
22 For an inheritance to his servant Israel: for his mercy endures for ever.
23  Quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
23 For he was mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy endures for ever
24  Et redémit nos ab inimícis nostris: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
24 And he redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endures for ever.
25  Qui dat escam omni carni: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus
25 Who gives food to all flesh: for his mercy endures for ever.
26  Confitémini Deo cæli: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
26 Give glory to the God of heaven: for his mercy endures for ever.
27  Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
Give glory to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever

Psalm 135 is, in essence, about God's wondrous nature:  in itself (verses 1-4); as creator and sustainer of the world (verses 5-9; 25); and providentially guiding human history (verses 10-22).  Above all, it is the story of God's choice of Israel, the Church, as his people (verses 21-25).

There is a lot of overlap in content Psalm 135 and Psalm 134, as well as with Psalm 113 from Monday Vespers, and so in the next posts on the verses, rather than going over the same ground again, I'll try and draw out those connections.

For his mercy endures forever

The particularly distinctive feature of Psalm 135 is that it is structured as a litany.

Each verse can be understood as beginning, St Augustine tells us, as do the first four, 'give thanks to the Lord for...'.

Each verse concludes with the refrain 'for his mercy (steadfast love) endures forever'.

Pope Benedict XVI, in a General Audience provided this commentary on the refrain:

"Let us first reflect on the refrain "for his mercy endures for ever". At the centre of the phrase the word "mercy" rings out. In fact, it is a legitimate but limited translation of the original Hebrew term hesed. This is actually a word that belongs to the characteristic terminology used in the Bible to express the Covenant that exists between the Lord and his People. The term seeks to define the attitudes deriving from this relationship:  faithfulness, loyalty, love, and of course, God's mercy. We have here a concise summary that portrays the deep, personal bond established by the Creator with his creature. With this relationship, God does not appear in the Bible as an impassive and implacable Lord against whose mysterious power it is useless to struggle. Instead, he shows himself as a person who loves his creatures, watches over them, follows them on their way through history and suffers because of the infidelities with which the people often oppose his hesed, his merciful and fatherly love..."
God's transcendence and immanence

Psalm 135, like its predecessor, dwells on the nature of God, in terms of both his transcendence and immanence, as Pope Benedict's commentary on it suggests:

"The first part, therefore, addresses creation as a reflection of God's beauty, and the second part speaks of history and the good that God has done for us in the course of time. 
The Lord, of course, is transcendent as the Creator and Arbiter of being; but he is also close to his creatures, entering space and time. He does not remain far away, in a distant Heaven. On the contrary, his presence in our midst reaches its crowning point in Christ's Incarnation. This is what the Christian interpretation of the Psalm clearly proclaims, as the Fathers of the Church testified: they saw as the culminating point of the history of salvation and the supreme sign of the Father's merciful love his gift of his Son to be the Saviour and Redeemer of humanity (cf. Jn 3:16)."

Liturgical and Scriptural uses of the psalm

NT references
Jas 1:17(v8);
Lk 1:48(v23);
Lk 1:71 (v24)
RB cursus
Wed Vesper+AN 4567
Monastic feasts etc
AN 1351, 3625
Roman pre 1911
Thurs Vespers
Responsories
-
Roman post 1911
1911-62: Thurs Vespers  . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)
-


And you can find the first in a series of notes on the verses of Psalm 135 here..