Psalms 138:1-6

Thanksgiving for Yahweh’s Goodness

Of David.

1 I give you thanks with my whole heart; before [the] gods I sing your praise.

2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name, because of your loyal love and faithfulness, for you have magnified your word according to all your name.

3 {When} I called and you answered me, you emboldened me in my soul [with] strength.

4 All [the] kings of [the] earth will praise you, O Yahweh, when they have heard the words of your mouth,

5 and they will sing of the ways of Yahweh, because Yahweh's glory [is] great.

6 Though Yahweh [is] high, yet he sees [the] lowly, but [the] proud he perceives at a distance.

Read Chapter Compare

Images for Psalms 138:1-6

Psalms 138:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 138

\\<>\\. This psalm is generally thought to have been written by David upon his being advanced to the throne; on account of which he praises the Lord, who had supported him under many exercises, and had made good his promise to him, at least in part; and he firmly believed the accomplishment of the rest, that he would perfect what concerned him, Ps 138:8. It seems as if this psalm was composed between his being king over Judah and over all Israel. Though Theodoret understands the psalm as a thanksgiving of the Jews upon their return from Babylon, which David prophesied of. The Syriac version calls it a thanksgiving with a prophecy; as indeed it is a prophecy of the Messiah's kingdom, and of the calling of the Gentiles in the latter day, as appears from Ps 138:4.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 6

[a]. The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
[b]. Or "promise"
[c]. Or "beyond all your name"
[d]. Literally "In the day"
[e]. Or "heard about the words"
[f]. Hebrew "knows"