Psalms 138

A psalm of praise for God's nearness to the lowly.

Psalms 138 - Praise With My Whole Heart

Psalm 138 begins as personal worship, "I will praise thee with my whole heart," recalling a day when the psalmist cried out and God "strengthenedst me with strength in my soul." It shifts the mood from the exile's grief in Psalms 137 back to confident praise.


A Psalm of David. I will give Thee thanks with my whole heart, in the presence of the mighty will I sing praises unto Thee.

I will bow down toward Thy holy temple, and give thanks unto Thy name for Thy mercy and for Thy truth; for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name.

In the day that I called, Thou didst answer me; Thou didst encourage me in my soul with strength.

All the kings of the earth shall give Thee thanks, O HaShem, for they have heard the words of Thy mouth.

Yea, they shall sing of the ways of HaShem; for great is the glory of HaShem.

For though HaShem be high, yet regardeth He the lowly, and the haughty He knoweth from afar.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou quickenest me; Thou stretchest forth Thy hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand doth save me.

HaShem will accomplish that which concerneth me; Thy mercy, O HaShem, endureth for ever; forsake not the work of Thine own hands.

David closes with settled trust that "the LORD will perfect that which concerneth me," a promise captured directly in <a href="/bible/jps/psalms/chapter-138/8">Psalms 138:8</a> and echoed by <a href="/bible/jps/philippians/chapter-1/6">Philippians 1:6</a>. Read more on the <a href="/bible/jps/psalms">Psalms overview</a> or continue to <a href="/bible/jps/psalms/chapter-139">Psalms 139</a>.