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Thanksgiving to God

138 Lord,[a] I thank[b] you with all of my heart;
    because you heard the words that I spoke,[c]
        I will sing your praise before the heavenly beings.[d]
I will bow down in worship toward your holy Temple
    and give thanks to your name for your gracious love and truth,
for you have done great things
    to carry out your word
        consistent with your name.
When[e] I called out, you answered me;
    you strengthened me.

Lord, all the kings of the earth will give you thanks,
    for they have heard what you have spoken.[f]
They will sing about the ways of the Lord,
    for great is the glory of the Lord!
Though the Lord is highly exalted,
    yet he pays attention to those who are lowly regarded,
        but he is aware of the arrogant from afar.

Though I walk straight into trouble,
    you preserve my life,
stretching out your hand
    to fight the vehemence of my enemies,
        and your right hand delivers me.
The Lord will complete what his purpose is for me.
    Lord, your gracious love is eternal;
        do not abandon your personal work in me.[g]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 138:1 So LXX DSS 11QPsa; MT and Aquilla lack Lord
  2. Psalm 138:1 So MT; LXX reads acknowledge
  3. Psalm 138:1 So LXX; MT DSS lack this line
  4. Psalm 138:1 Or the gods; LXX reads the angels
  5. Psalm 138:3 Lit. In the day
  6. Psalm 138:4 Lit. heard the words of your mouth
  7. Psalm 138:8 Lit. abandon the work of your hand

Psalm 138

Of David.

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    before the “gods”(A) I will sing(B) your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple(C)
    and will praise your name(D)
    for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,(E)
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
    that it surpasses your fame.(F)
When I called,(G) you answered me;(H)
    you greatly emboldened(I) me.

May all the kings of the earth(J) praise you, Lord,
    when they hear what you have decreed.
May they sing(K) of the ways of the Lord,
    for the glory of the Lord(L) is great.

Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;(M)
    though lofty, he sees them(N) from afar.
Though I walk(O) in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.(P)
You stretch out your hand(Q) against the anger of my foes;(R)
    with your right hand(S) you save me.(T)
The Lord will vindicate(U) me;
    your love, Lord, endures forever(V)
    do not abandon(W) the works of your hands.(X)

138 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

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.

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth.

Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.

Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

Though 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.

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.