Psalm 138:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I 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.

NIV: I 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.

NASB: I 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.

CSB: I 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.

NLT: I 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.

KJV: I 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.

NKJV: 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.

Psalm 138:1–3 expresses David's public praise of God, for His salvation and consistent love. This steady care is from the Hebrew word hesed. The first verse uses the term elōhim', which can refer to God, fictional gods, spiritual beings, or important people. Any or all of these can apply in this case. The term translated "temple" or "sanctuary" is also used in reference to the tabernacle (1 Samuel 1:24).

David publicly praises God for His faithfulness and salvation. Someday, all rulers of every nation will acknowledge the Lord. They will recognize His goodness and mercy. Despite troubles, David is confident in the Lord's plan. God has a purpose for David's life, so he is content to pray for aid and rest in God's loyal love.

This section (Psalms 138—145) of songs are attributed to David. Psalm 108 shares basic themes with the beginning verses of this entry. The later parts of this psalm echo David's thoughts (Psalm 23:4) in Psalm 23. No specific moment is tied to this psalm; David may have written it while thinking about Israel's many neighboring enemies (2 Samuel 5:6; 8:1–2). The first verse uses the word elōhim', which can refer to the Lord God (Genesis 1:1), to deities in general (Deuteronomy 5:7), to spiritual beings (Psalm 8:5), or to important people (Genesis 23:6).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.