Psalms 138:4-8

Context

138:4 Let all the kings of the earth give thanks¹ to you, O Lord,

when they hear the words you speak.²

138:5 Let them sing about the Lord’s deeds,³

for the Lord’s splendor is magnificent.⁴

138:6 Though the Lord is exalted, he takes note of the lowly,

and recognizes the proud from far away.

138:7 Even when I must walk in the midst of danger,⁵ you revive me.

You oppose my angry enemies,⁶

and your right hand delivers me.

138:8 The Lord avenges me.⁷

O Lord, your loyal love endures.

Do not abandon those whom you have made!⁸

[138:4] ¹tn The prefixed verbal forms here and in the following verse are understood as jussives, for the psalmist appears to be calling upon the kings to praise God. Another option is to take them as imperfects and translate, “the kings of the earth will give thanks…and will sing.” In this case the psalmist anticipates a universal response to his thanksgiving song.

[138:4] ²tn Heb “the words of your mouth.”

[138:5] ³tn Heb “ways.”

[138:5] ⁴tn Heb “great.”

[138:7] ⁵tn Or “distress.”

[138:7] ⁶tn Heb “against the anger of my enemies you extend your hand.”

[138:8] ⁷tn Heb “avenges on my behalf.” For the meaning “to avenge” for the verb גָּמַר (gamar), see HALOT 197-98 s.v. גמר.

[138:8] ⁸tn Heb “the works of your hands.” Many medieval Hebrew mss read the singular, “work of your hands.”