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Psalm 138

May the Kings Praise You

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By David.

Thanks From a Grateful Heart

I will thank you with all my heart.
Before the gods[a] I will make music for you.
I will bow down toward your holy temple.
I will give thanks to your name
    because of your mercy and because of your truth.
Yes, you made your word even greater than your name.[b]
By day I called, and you answered me.
You have made my soul strong.
All the kings of the earth will thank you, Lord,
when they have heard the message from your mouth.
Then they will sing about the ways of the Lord,
because the glory of the Lord is great.
Indeed the Lord is exalted, but he sees the lowly,
and he recognizes the proud from a distance.
If I walk surrounded by danger, you keep me alive
    in spite of the anger of my enemies.
You stretch out your hand.
You save me with your right hand.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose[c] for me.
Lord, your mercy endures forever.
Do not let go of the works[d] of your hands.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 138:1 Gods here may refer to angels, though that use of the term is rare. The point may simply be a declaration of God’s superiority to the pagan gods, who are only demons.
  2. Psalm 138:2 Literally for you have made great over all your name your saying or, with a different reading of the Hebrew, you made your word higher than the heavens
  3. Psalm 138:8 Or complete his plans
  4. Psalm 138:8 Hebrew variant work