Psalms 138

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

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

19 si occideris Deus peccatores et viri sanguinum declinate a me

20 quia dices in cogitatione accipient in vanitate civitates tuas

21 nonne qui oderunt te Domine oderam et super inimicos tuos tabescebam

22 perfecto odio oderam illos inimici facti sunt mihi

23 proba me Deus et scito cor meum interroga me et cognosce semitas meas

24 et vide si via iniquitatis in me est et deduc me in via aeterna

Psalms 138 Commentary

Chapter 138

The psalmist praises God for answering prayer. (1-5) The Lord's dealing with the humble and the proud. (6-8)

Verses 1-5 When we can praise God with our whole heart, we need not be unwilling for the whole world to witness our gratitude and joy in him. Those who rely on his loving-kindness and truth through Jesus Christ, will ever find him faithful to his word. If he spared not his own Son, how shall he not with him freely give us all things? If God gives us strength in our souls, to bear the burdens, resist the temptations, and to do the duties of an afflicted state, if he strengthens us to keep hold of himself by faith, and to wait with patience for the event, we are bound to be thankful.

Verses 6-8 Though the Lord is high, yet he has respect to every lowly, humbled sinner; but the proud and unbelieving will be banished far from his blissful presence. Divine consolations have enough in them to revive us, even when we walk in the midst of troubles. And God will save his own people that they may be revived by the Holy Spirit, the Giver of life and holiness. If we give to God the glory of his mercy, we may take to ourselves the comfort. This confidence will not do away, but quicken prayer. Whatever good there is in us, it is God works in us both to will and to do. The Lord will perfect the salvation of every true believer, and he will never forsake those whom he has created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works.

Chapter Summary

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.