Psalm 138:1-6

1 Von David. Preisen will ich dich mit meinem ganzen Herzen, will dich besingen vor den Göttern.

2 Ich will anbeten gegen deinen heiligen Tempel, und deinen Namen preisen um deiner Güte und deiner Wahrheit willen; denn du hast dein Wort groß gemacht über all deinen Namen.

3 An dem Tage, da ich rief, antwortetest du mir; du hast mich ermutigt: in meiner Seele war Kraft.

4 Alle Könige der Erde werden dich preisen, Jehova, wenn sie gehört haben die Worte deines Mundes;

5 und sie werden die Wege Jehovas besingen, denn groß ist die Herrlichkeit Jehovas.

6 Denn Jehova ist hoch, und er sieht den Niedrigen, und den Hochmütigen erkennt er von ferne.

Psalm 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.