Psalms 138:8-18

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

9 si sumpsero pinnas meas diluculo et habitavero in extremis maris

10 etenim illuc manus tua deducet me et tenebit me dextera tua

11 et dixi forsitan tenebrae conculcabunt me et nox inluminatio in deliciis meis

12 quia tenebrae non obscurabuntur a te et nox sicut dies inluminabitur sicut tenebrae eius ita et lumen eius

13 quia tu possedisti renes meos suscepisti me de utero matris meae

14 confitebor tibi quia terribiliter magnificatus es mirabilia opera tua et anima mea cognoscit nimis

15 non est occultatum os meum a te quod fecisti in occulto et substantia mea in inferioribus terrae

16 inperfectum meum viderunt oculi tui et in libro tuo omnes scribentur die formabuntur et nemo in eis

17 mihi autem nimis honorificati sunt amici tui Deus nimis confirmati sunt principatus eorum

18 dinumerabo eos et super harenam multiplicabuntur exsurrexi et adhuc sum tecum

Psalms 138:8-18 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.