Psalms 138:1-7

1 By David. I confess Thee, with all my heart, Before the gods I do praise Thee.

2 I bow myself toward Thy holy temple, And I confess Thy name, For Thy kindness, and for Thy truth, For Thou hast made great Thy saying above all Thy name.

3 In the day I called, when Thou dost answer me, Thou dost strengthen me in my soul [with] strength.

4 O Jehovah, all kings of earth confess Thee, When they have heard the sayings of Thy mouth.

5 And they sing in the ways of Jehovah, For great [is] the honour of Jehovah.

6 For high [is] Jehovah, and the lowly He seeth, And the haughty from afar He knoweth.

7 If I walk in the midst of distress Thou quickenest me, Against the anger of mine enemies Thou sendest forth Thy hand, And Thy right hand doth save me.

Psalms 138:1-7 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.