With My Whole Heart
Psalm 138 summary: what it means
Psalm 138 is a thanksgiving for a prayer that was answered. It opens with thanks from the whole heart and praise sung before the gods, and the speaker bows toward God's holy temple. Verse 3 gives the reason: in the day I called, you answered me, and you encouraged me with strength in my soul. From there the psalm widens to imagine all the kings of the earth giving thanks.
Verse 6 holds its central contrast: the LORD is high, yet he looks after the lowly and knows the proud from afar. The speaker then pictures walking in the middle of trouble, trusting God to revive them. It ends with a promise and a request in the same verse: the LORD will fulfill what concerns me, and do not forsake the works of your own hands.
Listen to Psalm 138 (audio)
1:04 · AI voice · All psalms audio
Psalm 138: With My Whole Heart
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-138
Psalm 138 commentary: explained verse by verse
I will give you thanks with my whole heart.Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.
I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
The thanks come from the whole heart, and the praise is sung before the gods. The psalm does not say more about who these gods are.
Also read Psalm 96:4, John 10:34-36, Psalm 82:1, 1 Corinthians 14:15
I will bow down toward your holy temple,and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth;for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all.
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.
The speaker bows toward God's holy temple and gives thanks for his loving kindness and truth. The end of the verse says God has exalted his Name and his Word above all, which the King James Version words as magnified thy word above all thy name.
Also read Psalm 85:10, Micah 7:18-20, Daniel 6:10, Psalm 86:15
In the day that I called, you answered me.You encouraged me with strength in my soul.
In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
This is the answered prayer behind the psalm. In the day I called you answered me, and the answer came as strength in the speaker's soul.
Also read Isaiah 41:10, 2 Corinthians 12:8-10, Colossians 1:11, Isaiah 12:2
All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, LORD,for they have heard the words of your mouth.
All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
The thanks spread outward. All the kings of the earth will give thanks, because they have heard the words of God's mouth.
Also read Isaiah 60:3-5, Psalm 22:22, Psalm 72:11, Psalm 102:15
Yes, they will sing of the ways of the LORD,for the LORD’s glory is great!
Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
The kings will sing of the ways of the LORD, because his glory is great. The verse continues the picture of worldwide praise begun in verse 4.
Also read Jeremiah 31:11-12, Revelation 7:12, Ephesians 1:12, Psalm 21:5
For though the LORD is high, yet he looks after the lowly;but he knows the proud from afar.
Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
The central contrast of the psalm. The LORD is high, yet he looks after the lowly, while the proud he knows from afar.
Also read Acts 12:22-23, Psalm 113:5-6, Luke 18:14, Isaiah 2:17
Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me.You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies.Your right hand will save me.
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 speaker pictures walking through trouble: though I walk in the middle of trouble. The confidence is that God will revive them, stretch out his hand against their enemies, and save them with his right hand.
Also read Psalm 85:6, Psalm 119:49-50, Psalm 35:1-3, Isaiah 57:16
The LORD will fulfill that which concerns me.Your loving kindness, LORD, endures forever.Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.
The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
The LORD will fulfill that which concerns me: God will complete whatever concerns the speaker. The verse gives the reason, his loving kindness endures forever, and ends with a request: don't forsake the works of your own hands.
Also read Isaiah 26:12, Psalm 71:17-18, Jeremiah 32:39-40, Isaiah 42:16
A prayer from Psalm 138
LORD, I give you thanks with my whole heart. I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your loving kindness and your truth. In the day that I called, you answered me and gave me strength in my soul. Though you are high, you look after the lowly. When I walk in the middle of trouble, revive me. Stretch out your hand, and let your right hand save me. Fulfill what concerns me. Your loving kindness endures forever. Do not forsake the works of your own hands. Amen.
Psalm 138 Bible study questions
- In verse 3, what happened in the day that the writer called, and what did the LORD give him?
- In verse 6, what contrast does the writer draw between the lowly and the proud?
- Verse 7 speaks of walking in the middle of trouble. What is it like to give thanks while trouble is still going on?
- Verse 8 asks the LORD not to forsake the works of his own hands. What does it mean to you to be one of those works?
- Psalm 34:4 says I sought the LORD, and he answered me. How does it compare with Psalm 138:3?
Questions about Psalm 138
What is the meaning of Psalm 138?
It is a whole-hearted thanksgiving for an answered prayer. It imagines the kings of the earth joining the praise, says the high LORD cares for the lowly, and ends trusting him to complete what concerns the speaker.
Who wrote Psalm 138?
The heading attributes it to David. It does not say when or why it was written.
What does Psalm 138:8 say in the KJV?
The KJV reads "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands." Where the KJV has perfect, the World English Bible has fulfill.
What does Psalm 138:8 mean?
It expresses confidence that the LORD will complete what concerns the speaker, because his loving kindness lasts forever, and asks him not to abandon the work of his own hands.
What does Psalm 138:6 mean?
It says that although the LORD is high, he looks after the lowly, while he knows the proud from a distance.
What does Psalm 138:3 mean?
It is the answered prayer behind the psalm: on the day the speaker called, God answered and gave them strength in their soul.
Psalm 138 KJV: the King James Version
I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.1
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.2
In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.3
All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.4
Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.5
Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.6
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.7
The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.8
Psalm 138 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
Show the text
1 לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ אוֹדְךָ֥ בְכָל־לִבִּ֑י נֶ֖גֶד אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲזַמְּרֶֽךָּ׃
2 אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֨ה אֶל־הֵיכַ֪ל קָדְשְׁךָ֡ וְא֘וֹדֶ֤ה אֶת־שְׁמֶ֗ךָ עַל־חַסְדְּךָ֥ וְעַל־אֲמִתֶּ֑ךָ כִּֽי־הִגְדַּ֥לְתָּ עַל־כָּל־שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ אִמְרָתֶֽךָ׃
3 בְּי֣וֹם קָ֭רָֽאתִי וַֽתַּעֲנֵ֑נִי תַּרְהִבֵ֖נִי בְנַפְשִׁ֣י עֹֽז׃
4 יוֹד֣וּךָ יְ֭הוָה כָּל־מַלְכֵי־אָ֑רֶץ כִּ֥י שָׁ֝מְע֗וּ אִמְרֵי־פִֽיךָ׃
5 וְ֭יָשִׁירוּ בְּדַרְכֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֥י גָ֝ד֗וֹל כְּב֣וֹד יְהוָֽה׃
6 כִּי־רָ֣ם יְ֭הוָה וְשָׁפָ֣ל יִרְאֶ֑ה וְ֝גָבֹ֗הַּ מִמֶּרְחָ֥ק יְיֵדָֽע׃
7 אִם־אֵלֵ֤ךְ ׀ בְּקֶ֥רֶב צָרָ֗ה תְּחַ֫יֵּ֥נִי עַ֤ל אַ֣ף אֹ֭יְבַי תִּשְׁלַ֣ח יָדֶ֑ךָ וְת֖וֹשִׁיעֵ֣נִי יְמִינֶֽךָ׃
8 יְהוָה֮ יִגְמֹ֪ר בַּ֫עֲדִ֥י יְ֭הוָה חַסְדְּךָ֣ לְעוֹלָ֑ם מַעֲשֵׂ֖י יָדֶ֣יךָ אַל־תֶּֽרֶף׃
Psalm 138 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 137 there.
Show the text
1 I will praise thee, O lord, with my whole heart: for thou hast heard the words of my mouth. I will sing praise to thee in the sight of his angels:
2 I will worship towards thy holy temple, and I will give glory to thy name. For thy mercy, and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy holy name above all.
3 In what day soever I shall call upon thee, hear me: thou shall multiply strength in my soul.
4 May all the kings of the earth give glory to thee: for they have heard all the words of thy mouth.
5 And let them sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For the Lord is high, and looketh on the low: and the high he knoweth afar off.
7 If I shall walk in the midst of tribulation, thou wilt quicken me: and thou hast stretched forth thy hand against the wrath of my enemies: and thy right hand hath saved me.
8 The Lord will repay for me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: O despise not the work of thy hands.
Psalm 138 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 137.
Show the text
1 Ipsi David. Confitebor tibi, Domine, in toto corde meo, quoniam audisti verba oris mei. In conspectu angelorum psallam tibi;
2 adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum, et confitebor nomini tuo: super misericordia tua et veritate tua; quoniam magnificasti super omne, nomen sanctum tuum.
3 In quacumque die invocavero te, exaudi me; multiplicabis in anima mea virtutem.
4 Confiteantur tibi, Domine, omnes reges terræ, quia audierunt omnia verba oris tui.
5 Et cantent in viis Domini, quoniam magna est gloria Domini;
6 quoniam excelsus Dominus, et humilia respicit, et alta a longe cognoscit.
7 Si ambulavero in medio tribulationis, vivificabis me; et super iram inimicorum meorum extendisti manum tuam, et salvum me fecit dextera tua.
8 Dominus retribuet pro me. Domine, misericordia tua in sæculum; opera manuum tuarum ne despicias.
Printable Psalm 138: free, large print and PDF
Print Psalm 138 for free: the whole psalm or only the verses you tick. Choose regular, large or extra large print, and a plain page, a framed sheet to hang on the wall or a verse card, in the World English Bible or the King James Version. To keep a PDF, choose Save as PDF in the print window. Nothing to sign up for.
Psalm 138 at a glance
| Verses | 8 |
| Heading in the text | By David. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to David. |
| Type | Thanksgiving |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 137 |
Read Psalm 138 when you are facing
thanksgivingstrengthprotection
Psalm 138 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 138 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 138 belongs
Psalms of DavidBook 5 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source