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Verse
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Psalm chapter 138

English Standard Version

1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; 2I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. 3On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. 4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, 5and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. 6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. 8The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
New International Version

1Of David. I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing your praise. 2I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame.
3When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me. 4May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord, when they hear what you have decreed.
5May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. 6Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar. 7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me. 8The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.
New American Standard Bible

1I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing Your praises before the gods. 2I will bow down toward Your holy temple And give thanks to Your name for Your mercy and Your truth; For You have made Your word great according to all Your name. 3On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul. 4All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, Lord, When they have heard the words of Your mouth. 5And they will sing of the ways of the Lord, For great is the glory of the Lord. 6For the Lord is exalted, Yet He looks after the lowly, But He knows the haughty from afar. 7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will reach out with Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. 8The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your faithfulness, Lord, is everlasting; Do not abandon the works of Your hands.
Christian Standard Bible

1Of David. I will give you thanks with all my heart; I will sing your praise before the heavenly beings. 2I will bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your constant love and truth. You have exalted your name and your promise above everything else.
3On the day I called, you answered me; you increased strength within me. 4All the kings on earth will give you thanks, Lord, when they hear what you have promised. 5They will sing of the Lord’s ways, for the Lord’s glory is great.
6Though the Lord is exalted, he takes note of the humble; but he knows the haughty from a distance. 7If I walk into the thick of danger, you will preserve my life from the anger of my enemies. You will extend your hand; your right hand will save me. 8The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Lord, your faithful love endures forever; do not abandon the work of your hands.
New Living Translation

1I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods. 2I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. 3As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.
4Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord, for all of them will hear your words. 5Yes, they will sing about the Lord’s ways, for the glory of the Lord is very great. 6Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.
7Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. 8The Lord will work out his plans for my life — for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.
King James Version

1A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
3In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
4All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
5Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.
6Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
8The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
New King James Version

1{A Psalm of David.} I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. 2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. 3In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord, When they hear the words of Your mouth. 5Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, For great is the glory of the Lord. 6 Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. 8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

What does Psalm chapter 138 mean?

David enthusiastically praises the Lord in a public way. He does this before a group referred to using the term elōhim', which has various meanings. Here, it may mean lesser, false deities, or spiritual beings, or influential and powerful men. David also praises the Lord for His constant, loyal love, using the important term hesed. Though the temple was not built during David's life, the word translated "temple" or "sanctuary" is also used to refer to the tabernacle (1 Samuel 1:24). Because the Lord has proven His love for David (2 Samuel 5:12; 7:12–16), David's faith and resolve are made stronger (Psalm 138:1–3).

During David's life, enemy nations surrounded Israel (2 Samuel 8:1–10). They rejected the One True God (Deuteronomy 18:9–14). Someday, all nations and kings will admit that God is God (Isaiah 45:23; Psalm 22:27). David looks forward to this day, when the Lord's mercy and goodness will be acclaimed around the world (Psalm 138:4–6).

David famously declared his trust in God in Psalm 23 (Psalm 23:4). This song echoes that idea. David is confident in God's plans. Again, David mentions the consistent and eternal love expressed by the Lord. David will trust that God has no intention of wasting the work He has done so far (Psalm 138:7–8).
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