(a) By this repetition he shows that the least of God's benefits bind us to thanksgiving: but chiefly his mercy, which is principally declared towards his Church.

2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his {b} mercy endureth for ever.

(b) This was a common kind of thanksgiving, which the whole people used, when they had received any benefit from God, as in 2Ch 7:6,20:21, meaning that God was not only merciful to their fathers, but also continued the same to their posterity.

7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:

8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:

11 And {c} brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:

(c) God's merciful providence toward man appears in all his creatures, but chiefly in that he delivered his Church from the clutches of their enemies.

12 With a strong hand, and with a {d} stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

(d) In doing such a work as was never done before, nor that any other could do.

13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:

14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:

15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

16 To him which led his people through the {e} wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.

(e) Where for the space of forty years he showed infinite and most strange wonders.

17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

18 And slew {f} famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

(f) Declaring by it that no power or authority was so dear to him as the love of his Church.

19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:

20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:

21 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:

22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.

23 Who remembered us in our {g} low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

(g) In our greatest affliction and slavery when we looked for nothing less than to have had any help.

24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

25 Who giveth food to all {h} flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

(h) Seeing that God provides even for the beasts much more has he care over his.

26 {i} O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

(i) Seeing that all ages have had most plain testimonies of God's benefits.