Psalm 138:3-8

3 On the day I ¹called, You answered me; You made me bold with ²strength in my soul.

4 ³All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O LORD, When they have heard the words of Your mouth.

5 And they will ⁴sing of the ways of the LORD, For ⁵great is the glory of the LORD.

6 For ⁶though the LORD is exalted, Yet He ⁷regards the lowly, But the ⁸haughty He knows from afar.

7 Though I ⁹walk in the midst of trouble, You will ¹⁰revive me; You will ¹¹stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will ¹²save me.

8 The LORD will ¹³accomplish what concerns me; Your ¹⁴lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; ¹⁵Do not forsake the ¹⁶works of Your hands.

Psalm 138:3-8 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.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 118:5
• 2. Psalms 28:7; Psalms 46:1
• 3. Psalms 72:11; Psalms 102:15
• 4. Psalms 145:7
• 5. Psalms 21:5
• 6. Psalms 113:4-7
• 7. Proverbs 3:34; Isaiah 57:15; Luke 1:48; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5
• 8. Psalms 40:4; Psalms 101:5
• 9. Psalms 23:4; Psalms 143:11
• 10. Ezra 9:8, 9; Psalms 71:20; Isaiah 57:15
• 11. Exodus 7:5; Exodus 15:12; Isaiah 5:25; Jeremiah 51:25; Ezekiel 6:14; Ezekiel 25:13
• 12. Psalms 20:6; Psalms 60:5
• 13. Psalms 57:2; Philippians 1:6
• 14. Psalms 136:1
• 15. Job 10:8; Psalms 27:9; Psalms 71:9; Psalms 119:8
• 16. Job 10:3; Job 14:15; Psalms 100:3

Footnotes

• [a] Or "keep me alive"