Psalms 138:1-9

1 in finem David psalmus

2 Domine probasti me et cognovisti me tu cognovisti sessionem meam et surrectionem meam

3 intellexisti cogitationes meas de longe semitam meam et funiculum meum investigasti

4 et omnes vias meas praevidisti quia non est sermo in lingua mea

5 ecce Domine tu cognovisti omnia novissima et antiqua tu formasti me et posuisti super me manum tuam

6 mirabilis facta est scientia tua ex me confortata est non potero ad eam

7 quo ibo ab spiritu tuo et quo a facie tua fugiam

8 si ascendero in caelum tu illic es si descendero ad infernum ades

9 si sumpsero pinnas meas diluculo et habitavero in extremis maris

Psalms 138:1-9 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.