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Psalms 138

BSB·8 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1I give You thanksאוֹדְךָ֥’ō·wḏ·ḵā — To give thanks, praise, or acknowledgeH3034 — Full Word Study → with allבְכָל־ḇə·ḵāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → my heartלִבִּ֑יlib·bî — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study →; beforeנֶ֖גֶדne·ḡeḏ — before, in front of, in the presence ofH5048 — Full Word Study → the godsאֱלֹהִ֣ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → I sing Your praisesאֲזַמְּרֶֽךָּ׃’ă·zam·mə·re·kā — To sing praises, make music to GodH2167 — Full Word Study →. 2I bow downאֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֨ה’eš·ta·ḥă·weh — To bow down; to worship or show reverenceH7812 — Full Word Study → towardאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → Your holyקָדְשְׁךָ֡qāḏ·šə·ḵā — Holiness, sacred, consecrated, set apartH6944 — Full Word Study → templeהֵיכַ֪לhê·ḵal — Temple, palace, sanctuary structureH1964 — Full Word Study → and give thanksוְא֘וֹדֶ֤הwə·’ō·w·ḏeh — To give thanks, praise, or acknowledgeH3034 — Full Word Study → to Your nameשְׁמֶ֗ךָšə·me·ḵā — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → forעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → Your loving devotionחַסְדְּךָ֥ḥas·də·ḵā — Covenant loyalty and steadfast kindnessH2617 — Full Word Study → andוְעַל־wə·‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → Your faithfulnessאֲמִתֶּ֑ךָ’ă·mit·te·ḵā — Truth; faithfulness; reliability; what is established and sureH571 — Full Word Study →; Youכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → have exaltedהִגְדַּ֥לְתָּhiḡ·dal·tā — to grow, become great, magnifyH1431 — Full Word Study → Your nameשִׁ֝מְךָ֗šim·k̲ā — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → and Your wordאִמְרָתֶֽךָ׃’im·rā·ṯe·ḵā — A spoken word, utterance, or divine sayingH565 — Full Word Study → aboveעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → all elseכָּל־kā·lō·ši- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study →. 3On the dayבְּי֣וֹםbə·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → I calledקָ֭רָֽאתִיqā·rā·ṯî — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study →, You answered meוַֽתַּעֲנֵ֑נִיwat·ta·‘ă·nê·nî — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study →; You emboldened meתַּרְהִבֵ֖נִיtar·hi·ḇê·nî — To strengthen, to act boldly or proudlyH7292 — Full Word Study → and strengthened my soulבְנַפְשִׁ֣יḇə·nap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study →. 4Allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the kingsמַלְכֵי־mal·ḵê- — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → of the earthאָ֑רֶץ’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → will give You thanksיוֹד֣וּךָyō·w·ḏū·ḵā — To give thanks, praise, or acknowledgeH3034 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, whenכִּ֥יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → they hearשָׁ֝מְע֗וּšā·mə·ʿû — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study → the wordsאִמְרֵי־’im·rê- — Word, speech, saying, utteranceH561 — Full Word Study → of Your mouthפִֽיךָ׃p̄î·ḵā — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study →. 5They will singוְ֭יָשִׁירוּwə·yā·šî·rū — to sing, make musicH7891 — Full Word Study → of the waysבְּדַרְכֵ֣יbə·ḏar·ḵê — way, path, journey, conductH1870 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, forכִּ֥יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → the gloryכְּב֣וֹדkə·ḇō·wḏ — weightiness, honor, splendor, gloryH3519 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → is greatגָ֝ד֗וֹלḡā·ḏō·wl — Great, mighty, large in size or significanceH1419 — Full Word Study →. 6Thoughכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → is on highרָ֣םrām — To raise, lift up, exalt; to be highH7311 — Full Word Study →, He attendsיִרְאֶ֑הyir·’eh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → to the lowlyוְשָׁפָ֣לwə·šā·p̄āl — Low, humble, base, or inferior in position or statusH8217 — Full Word Study →; but the proudוְ֝גָבֹ֗הַּwə·ḡā·ḇō·ah — high, exalted, or lofty in position or characterH1364 — Full Word Study → He knowsיְיֵדָֽע׃yə·yê·ḏā‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → from afarמִמֶּרְחָ֥קmim·mer·ḥāq — Distance, remoteness, far placeH4801 — Full Word Study →. 7Ifאִם־’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → I walkאֵלֵ֤ךְ׀’ê·lêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → in the midstבְּקֶ֥רֶבbə·qe·reḇ — midst, inner part, heart, inward beingH7130 — Full Word Study → of troubleצָרָ֗הṣā·rāh — Distress, trouble, adversityH6869 — Full Word Study →, You preserve meתְּחַ֫יֵּ֥נִיtə·ḥay·yê·nî — To live, to preserve alive, to give lifeH2421 — Full Word Study → fromעַ֤ל‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the angerאַ֣ף’ap̄ — Anger, wrath, face, or noseH639 — Full Word Study → of my foesאֹ֭יְבַי’ō·yə·ḇay — Enemy; adversary; one who opposesH341 — Full Word Study →; You extendתִּשְׁלַ֣חtiš·laḥ — to send, let go, releaseH7971 — Full Word Study → Your handיָדֶ֑ךָyā·ḏe·ḵā — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study →, and Your right handיְמִינֶֽךָ׃yə·mî·ne·ḵā — right hand, right side, southH3225 — Full Word Study → saves meוְת֖וֹשִׁיעֵ֣נִיwə·ṯō·wō·šî·‘ê·nî — To deliver, rescue, or save from dangerH3467 — Full Word Study →. 8The LORDיְהוָה֮Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → will fulfillיִגְמֹ֪רyiḡ·mōr — to complete, finish, or bring to an endH1584 — Full Word Study → His purpose for me. O LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, Your loving devotionחַסְדְּךָ֣ḥas·də·ḵā — Covenant loyalty and steadfast kindnessH2617 — Full Word Study → endures foreverלְעוֹלָ֑םlə·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study →do notאַל־’al- — do not; negative imperative particleH408 — Full Word Study → abandonתֶּֽרֶף׃te·rep̄ — to slacken, weaken, or grow feebleH7503 — Full Word Study → the worksמַעֲשֵׂ֖יma·‘ă·śê — Work, deed, or actionH4639 — Full Word Study → of Your handsיָדֶ֣יךָyā·ḏe·ḵā — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 138
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 138 is a psalm of thanksgiving and confident praise, traditionally attributed to David. The psalmist commits himself to wholehearted worship of the Lord, celebrating God's faithfulness, mercy, and power. This brief but profound psalm moves from personal testimony of God's deliverance to a vision of God's universal glory—when all earthly rulers will recognize and honor the Lord. Throughout, the psalmist affirms that the God who is infinitely high nonetheless cares tenderly for the lowly, and that His promises are eternal and trustworthy.

Verses 1-2: Wholehearted Praise Before All

The psalmist opens with a bold declaration: "I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee." This is not tentative or partial worship; it is complete and unreserved. The phrase "before the gods" likely refers either to earthly rulers (who were sometimes deified in ancient Near Eastern culture) or to false deities that others served. The point is clear: regardless of what others worship, the psalmist's loyalty belongs wholly to the true God.

Verse 2 deepens this commitment: worship toward God's "holy temple" expresses reverence and proper orientation toward God's dwelling place. The psalmist praises God specifically for His "lovingkindness and truth"—two of God's most characteristic attributes. The final phrase is striking: "thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." This means God has honored and exalted His promises and His spoken word even above His own great name. For believers, this reminds us that God takes His promises seriously; His word is as reliable as His very character.

Application: Are we willing to praise God with our whole heart, even when surrounded by competing voices and false gods of our culture? Does our worship reflect confidence in God's promises?

Verses 3-5: From Personal Deliverance to Universal Praise

Verse 3 roots the psalm in concrete experience: "In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul." The psalmist recalls a specific moment of crisis when God responded and provided inner strength. This is not abstract theology but lived faith—God answered when called upon.

From this personal testimony, the vision expands dramatically in verses 4-5. "All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth." The psalmist looks forward to a day when earthly powers will recognize God's supremacy. They will not merely obey out of fear but will actively "sing in the ways of the LORD." This eschatological hope—that all creation will eventually acknowledge God's glory—echoes throughout Scripture and finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, before whom every knee will bow.

Application: Our personal encounters with God's faithfulness strengthen us to trust Him for greater purposes. God's plan extends far beyond our individual needs to His ultimate glory.

Verses 6-8: God's Care for the Lowly and Promise of Completion

Verse 6 presents a beautiful paradox central to God's character: "Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off." The almighty God who dwells in transcendent glory bends down with respect (attention and care) toward the humble. Conversely, the proud are kept at distance—not because God cannot see them, but because pride separates us from Him.

Verses 7-8 return to confidence in God's protective care. Even "in the midst of trouble," the Lord will "revive me" and "stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies." The closing promise is magnificent: "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever." God completes what He begins, and His mercy has no end. The psalmist's final petition—"forsake not the works of thine own hands"—appeals to God's commitment to His own purposes.

Application: God's exaltation makes Him neither distant nor indifferent. He cares deeply for the humble and will see His purposes through to completion.

Application for Today

Psalm 138 calls us to uncompromising, whole-hearted worship rooted in personal experience of God's faithfulness. Whether facing enemies, uncertainty, or a culture hostile to faith, we can trust that the God who hears our prayers is perfecting His purposes and that His mercy is eternal. Our task is to praise Him completely, serve Him humbly, and trust Him fully.

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