Psalm 106
"Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD"; for he is good.
Illuminated manuscript of Psalm 106:1-8 in the St. Albans Psalter, beginning with initial C for Confitemini
Other name	Psalm 105 "Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus"
Language	Hebrew (original)

Psalm 106
← Psalm 105 Psalm 107 →
Book	Book of Psalms
Hebrew Bible part	Ketuvim
Order in the Hebrew part	1
Category	Sifrei Emet
Christian Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Christian part	19

Psalm 106 is the 106th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 105. In Latin, it is known by the incipit, "Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus".^[1] Alexander Kirkpatrick observes that the two historical psalms, Psalms 105 and 106, are closely related. Psalm 105 gives thanks for God's faithfulness to the covenant he made with Abraham; Psalm 106 is a psalm of penitence, reciting the history of Israel's faithlessness and disobedience.^[2] He also notes that this psalm and Psalm 107 "are closely connected together", arguing that "the division of the fourth and fifth books does not correspond to any difference of source or character, as is the case in the other books".^[3]

Psalm 106 is used in both Jewish and Christian liturgies. It has been paraphrased in hymns, and set to music.

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text^[4]^[5] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse	Hebrew	English translation (JPS 1917)
1	הַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ ׀ הוֹד֣וּ לַיהֹוָ֣ה כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃‎	Hallelujah. O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever.
2	מִ֗י יְ֭מַלֵּל גְּבוּר֣וֹת יְהֹוָ֑ה יַ֝שְׁמִ֗יעַ כׇּל־תְּהִלָּתֽוֹ׃‎	Who can express the mighty acts of the LORD, or make all His praise to be heard?
3	אַ֭שְׁרֵי שֹׁמְרֵ֣י מִשְׁפָּ֑ט עֹשֵׂ֖ה צְדָקָ֣ה בְכׇל־עֵֽת׃‎	Happy are they that keep justice, that do righteousness at all times.
4	זׇכְרֵ֣נִי יְ֭הֹוָה בִּרְצ֣וֹן עַמֶּ֑ךָ פׇּ֝קְדֵ֗נִי בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃‎	Remember me, O LORD, when Thou favourest Thy people; O think of me at Thy salvation;
5	לִרְא֤וֹת ׀ בְּט֘וֹבַ֤ת בְּחִירֶ֗יךָ לִ֭שְׂמֹחַ בְּשִׂמְחַ֣ת גּוֹיֶ֑ךָ לְ֝הִתְהַלֵּ֗ל עִם־נַחֲלָתֶֽךָ׃‎	That I may behold the prosperity of Thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, that I may glory with Thine inheritance.
6	חָטָ֥אנוּ עִם־אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ הֶעֱוִ֥ינוּ הִרְשָֽׁעְנוּ׃‎	We have sinned with our fathers, we have done iniquitously, we have dealt wickedly.
7	אֲב֘וֹתֵ֤ינוּ בְמִצְרַ֨יִם ׀ לֹֽא־הִשְׂכִּ֬ילוּ נִפְלְאוֹתֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א זָ֭כְרוּ אֶת־רֹ֣ב חֲסָדֶ֑יךָ וַיַּמְר֖וּ עַל־יָ֣ם בְּיַם־סֽוּף׃‎	Our fathers in Egypt gave no heed unto Thy wonders; they remembered not the multitude of Thy mercies; but were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea.
8	וַֽ֭יּוֹשִׁיעֵם לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמ֑וֹ לְ֝הוֹדִ֗יעַ אֶת־גְּבוּרָתֽוֹ׃‎	Nevertheless He saved them for His name's sake, that He might make His mighty power to be known.
9	וַיִּגְעַ֣ר בְּיַם־ס֭וּף וַֽיֶּחֱרָ֑ב וַיּוֹלִיכֵ֥ם בַּ֝תְּהֹמ֗וֹת כַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃‎	And He rebuked the Red Sea, and it was dried up; and He led them through the depths, as through a wilderness.
10	וַֽ֭יּוֹשִׁיעֵם מִיַּ֣ד שׂוֹנֵ֑א וַ֝יִּגְאָלֵ֗ם מִיַּ֥ד אוֹיֵֽב׃‎	And He saved them from the hand of him that hated them, And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11	וַיְכַסּוּ־מַ֥יִם צָרֵיהֶ֑ם אֶחָ֥ד מֵ֝הֶ֗ם לֹ֣א נוֹתָֽר׃‎	And the waters covered their adversaries; There was not one of them left.
12	וַיַּאֲמִ֥ינוּ בִדְבָרָ֑יו יָ֝שִׁ֗ירוּ תְּהִלָּתֽוֹ׃‎	Then believed they His words; They sang His praise.
13	מִ֭הֲרוּ שָׁכְח֣וּ מַֽעֲשָׂ֑יו לֹא־חִ֝כּ֗וּ לַעֲצָתֽוֹ׃‎	They soon forgot His works; They waited not for His counsel;
14	וַיִּתְאַוּ֣וּ תַ֭אֲוָה בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵ֝֗ל בִּישִׁימֽוֹן׃‎	But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tried God in the desert.
15	וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לָ֭הֶם שֶׁאֱלָתָ֑ם וַיְשַׁלַּ֖ח רָז֣וֹן בְּנַפְשָֽׁם׃‎	And He gave them their request; But sent leanness into their soul.
16	וַיְקַנְא֣וּ לְ֭מֹשֶׁה בַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה לְ֝אַהֲרֹ֗ן קְד֣וֹשׁ יְהֹוָֽה׃‎	They were jealous also of Moses in the camp, And of Aaron the holy one of the LORD.
17	תִּפְתַּח־אֶ֭רֶץ וַתִּבְלַ֣ע דָּתָ֑ן וַ֝תְּכַ֗ס עַל־עֲדַ֥ת אֲבִירָֽם׃‎	The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, And covered the company of Abiram.
18	וַתִּבְעַר־אֵ֥שׁ בַּעֲדָתָ֑ם לֶ֝הָבָ֗ה תְּלַהֵ֥ט רְשָׁעִֽים׃‎	And a fire was kindled in their company; The flame burned up the wicked.
19	יַעֲשׂוּ־עֵ֥גֶל בְּחֹרֵ֑ב וַ֝יִּשְׁתַּחֲו֗וּ לְמַסֵּכָֽה׃‎\|	They made a calf in Horeb, And worshipped a molten image.
20	וַיָּמִ֥ירוּ אֶת־כְּבוֹדָ֑ם בְּתַבְנִ֥ית שׁ֝֗וֹר אֹכֵ֥ל עֵֽשֶׂב׃‎	Thus they exchanged their glory For the likeness of an ox that eateth grass.
21	שָׁ֭כְחוּ אֵ֣ל מוֹשִׁיעָ֑ם עֹשֶׂ֖ה גְדֹל֣וֹת בְּמִצְרָֽיִם׃‎	They forgot God their saviour, Who had done great things in Egypt;
22	נִ֭פְלָאוֹת בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חָ֑ם נ֝וֹרָא֗וֹת עַל־יַם־סֽוּף׃‎	Wondrous works in the land of Ham, Terrible things by the Red Sea.
23	וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לְֽהַשְׁמִ֫ידָ֥ם לוּלֵ֡י מֹ֘שֶׁ֤ה בְחִיר֗וֹ עָמַ֣ד בַּפֶּ֣רֶץ לְפָנָ֑יו לְהָשִׁ֥יב חֲ֝מָת֗וֹ מֵהַשְׁחִֽית׃‎	Therefore He said that He would destroy them, Had not Moses His chosen stood before Him in the breach, To turn back His wrath, lest He should destroy them.
24	וַֽ֭יִּמְאֲסוּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חֶמְדָּ֑ה לֹא־הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ לִדְבָרֽוֹ׃‎	Moreover, they scorned the desirable land, They believed not His word;
25	וַיֵּרָגְנ֥וּ בְאׇהֳלֵיהֶ֑ם לֹ֥א שָׁ֝מְע֗וּ בְּק֣וֹל יְהֹוָֽה׃‎	And they murmured in their tents, They hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.
26	וַיִּשָּׂ֣א יָד֣וֹ לָהֶ֑ם לְהַפִּ֥יל א֝וֹתָ֗ם בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃‎	Therefore He swore concerning them, That He would overthrow them in the wilderness;
27	וּלְהַפִּ֣יל זַ֭רְעָם בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם וּ֝לְזָרוֹתָ֗ם בָּאֲרָצֽוֹת׃‎	And that He would cast out their seed among the nations, And scatter them in the lands.
28	וַ֭יִּצָּ֣מְדוּ לְבַ֣עַל פְּע֑וֹר וַ֝יֹּאכְל֗וּ זִבְחֵ֥י מֵתִֽים׃‎	They joined themselves also unto Baal of Peor, And ate the sacrifices of the dead.
29	וַ֭יַּכְעִיסוּ בְּמַ֥עַלְלֵיהֶ֑ם וַתִּפְרׇץ־בָּ֝֗ם מַגֵּפָֽה׃‎	Thus they provoked Him with their doings, And the plague broke in upon them.
30	וַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד פִּֽ֭ינְחָס וַיְפַלֵּ֑ל וַ֝תֵּעָצַ֗ר הַמַּגֵּפָֽה׃‎	Then stood up Phinehas, and wrought judgment, And so the plague was stayed.
31	וַתֵּחָ֣שֶׁב ל֭וֹ לִצְדָקָ֑ה לְדֹ֥ר וָ֝דֹ֗ר עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃‎	And that was counted unto him for righteousness, Unto all generations for ever.
32	וַ֭יַּקְצִיפוּ עַל־מֵ֥י מְרִיבָ֑ה וַיֵּ֥רַע לְ֝מֹשֶׁ֗ה בַּעֲבוּרָֽם׃‎	They angered Him also at the waters of Meribah, And it went ill with Moses because of them;
33	כִּי־הִמְר֥וּ אֶת־רוּח֑וֹ וַ֝יְבַטֵּ֗א בִּשְׂפָתָֽיו׃‎	For they embittered his spirit, And he spoke rashly with his lips.
34	לֹֽא־הִ֭שְׁמִידוּ אֶת־הָעַמִּ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֣ה לָהֶֽם׃‎	They did not destroy the peoples, As the LORD commanded them;
35	וַיִּתְעָרְב֥וּ בַגּוֹיִ֑ם וַֽ֝יִּלְמְד֗וּ מַעֲשֵׂיהֶֽם׃‎	But mingled themselves with the nations, And learned their works;
36	וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ אֶת־עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֑ם וַיִּהְי֖וּ לָהֶ֣ם לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃‎	And they served their idols, Which became a snare unto them;
37	וַיִּזְבְּח֣וּ אֶת־בְּ֭נֵיהֶם וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם לַשֵּׁדִֽים׃‎	Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons,
38	וַיִּ֥שְׁפְּכ֨וּ דָ֪ם נָקִ֡י דַּם־בְּנֵ֘יהֶ֤ם וּֽבְנוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר זִ֭בְּחוּ לַעֲצַבֵּ֣י כְנָ֑עַן וַתֶּחֱנַ֥ף הָ֝אָ֗רֶץ בַּדָּמִֽים׃‎	And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, Whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood.
39	וַיִּטְמְא֥וּ בְמַעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם וַ֝יִּזְנ֗וּ בְּמַ֥עַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃‎	Thus were they defiled with their works, And went astray in their doings.
40	וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֣ף יְהֹוָ֣ה בְּעַמּ֑וֹ וַ֝יְתָעֵ֗ב אֶת־נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃‎	Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against His people, And He abhorred His inheritance.
41	וַיִּתְּנֵ֥ם בְּיַד־גּוֹיִ֑ם וַֽיִּמְשְׁל֥וּ בָ֝הֶ֗ם שֹׂנְאֵיהֶֽם׃‎	And He gave them into the hand of the nations; And they that hated them ruled over them.
42	וַיִּלְחָצ֥וּם אוֹיְבֵיהֶ֑ם וַ֝יִּכָּנְע֗וּ תַּ֣חַת יָדָֽם׃‎	Their enemies also oppressed them, And they were subdued under their hand.
43	פְּעָמִ֥ים רַבּ֗וֹת יַצִּ֫ילֵ֥ם וְ֭הֵמָּה יַמְר֣וּ בַעֲצָתָ֑ם וַ֝יָּמֹ֗כּוּ בַּעֲוֺנָֽם׃‎	Many times did He deliver them; But they were rebellious in their counsel, And sank low through their iniquity.
44	וַ֭יַּרְא בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם בְּ֝שׇׁמְע֗וֹ אֶת־רִנָּתָֽם׃‎	Nevertheless He looked upon their distress, When He heard their cry;
45	וַיִּזְכֹּ֣ר לָהֶ֣ם בְּרִית֑וֹ וַ֝יִּנָּחֵ֗ם כְּרֹ֣ב חֲסָדָֽו׃‎	And He remembered for them His covenant, And repented according to the multitude of His mercies.
46	וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אוֹתָ֣ם לְרַחֲמִ֑ים לִ֝פְנֵ֗י כׇּל־שׁוֹבֵיהֶֽם׃‎	He made them also to be pitied Of all those that carried them captive.
47	הוֹשִׁיעֵ֨נוּ ׀ יְ֘הֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ וְקַבְּצֵנוּ֮ מִֽן־הַגּ֫וֹיִ֥ם לְ֭הֹדוֹת לְשֵׁ֣ם קׇדְשֶׁ֑ךָ לְ֝הִשְׁתַּבֵּ֗חַ בִּתְהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃‎	Save us, O LORD our God, And gather us from among the nations, That we may give thanks unto Thy holy name, That we may triumph in Thy praise
48	בָּ֤רֽוּךְ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵ֪י יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל מִן־הָ֤עוֹלָ֨ם ׀ וְעַ֬ד הָעוֹלָ֗ם וְאָמַ֖ר כׇּל־הָעָ֥ם אָמֵ֗ן הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃‎	Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting, and let all the people say: 'Amen.' Hallelujah.

King James Version

Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?
Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;
That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.
We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
Nevertheless, he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.
Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
They soon forgot his works; they waited not for his counsel:
But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram.
And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.
Therefore, he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.
Therefore, he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.
Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.
And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.
They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
Therefore, was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
Nevertheless, he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:
And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.
Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.

Verse 48

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel

From everlasting to everlasting!

And let all the people say, 'Amen!'

Praise the Lord!^[6]

These words correspond to the concluding verses of Psalms 41 and 89, which end Books 1 and 3 of the psalter, but Kirkpatrick observes that "the liturgical direction 'and all the people shall say, Amen, Hallelujah' (or 'Praise the Lord!') seems to imply that the doxology here is not a mere mark of the end of the Fourth Book, but was actually sung at the close of the Psalm."^[3]

Uses

Judaism

This psalm is recited on the second day of Passover in some traditions.^[7]
Verse 2 is the final verse of Anim Zemirot.^[8] It is recited by some Jews following Psalm 126 before Birkat Hamazon.^[9]
Verse 45 is found in the Mussaf Amidah on Rosh Hashanah.^[10]
Verse 47 is the third verse of the long Tachanun recited on Mondays and Thursdays,^[11] and is part of Baruch Hashem L'Olam during Maariv.^[12]

New Testament

Verse 10 is quoted in Luke 1:71^[13]
Verse 45 is quoted in Luke 1:72^[13]
Verse 48 is quoted in Luke 1:68^[13]

Musical settings

Verse 1 of Psalm 106 is the text for a round in German, "Danket, danket dem Herrn", with traditional music from the 18th century.

Heinrich Schütz wrote a setting of a paraphrase of the psalm in German, "Danket dem Herrn, erzeigt ihm Ehr", SWV 204, for the Becker Psalter, published first in 1628.