Psalms 138 · Verse 1

Psalms 138:1

A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
Psalms 138:1, King James Version

Psalms 138:1 in other translations

BSBOf David. I give You thanks with all my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises.
WEBBy David. I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.
ASVA Psalm of David. I will give thee thanks with my whole heart: Before the gods will I sing praises unto thee.
YLTBy David. I confess Thee, with all my heart, Before the gods I do praise Thee.
DARBYA Psalm of David. I will give thee thanks with my whole heart; before thegods will I sing psalms of thee.
BBEI will give you praise with all my heart: I will make melody to you before the gods.
WebsterA Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise to thee.

What does Psalms 138:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Psa 138:1-8. David thanks God for His benefits, and anticipating a wider extension of God's glory by His means, assures himself of His continued presence and faithfulness.

1. I will praise thee with my whole heart--(Compare Psa 9:1). before the gods--whether angels (Psa 8:5); or princes (Ex 21:6; Psa 82:6); or idols (Psa 97:7); denotes a readiness to worship the true God alone, and a contempt of all other objects of worship.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The psalmist praises the Lord for his mercies to himself, Psa 138:1-3. He foretells that the kings of the earth shall worship him, Psa 138:4, Psa 138:5. God's condescension to the humble, Psa 138:6. The psalmist's confidence, Psa 138:7, Psa 138:8. The Hebrew and all the Versions attribute this Psalm to David, and it is supposed to have been made by him when, delivered from all his enemies, he was firmly seated on the throne of Israel. As the Septuagint and Arabic prefix also the names of Haggai and Zechariah, it is probable that it was used by the Jews as a form of thanksgiving for their deliverance from all their enemies, and their ultimate settlement in their own land, after Ahasuerus, supposed by Calmet to be Darius Hystaspes, had married Esther, before which time they were not peaceably settled in their own country. Verse 1 I will praise thee with my whole heart - I have received the highest favors from thee, and my whole soul should acknowledge my obligation to thy mercy. The Versions and several MSS. add יהוה Yehovah, "I will praise thee, O Lord," etc. Before the gods will I sing - נגד אלהים neged Elohim, "in the presence of Elohim;" most probably meaning before the ark, where were the sacred symbols of the Supreme Being. The Chaldee has, before the judges. The Vulgate, before the angels. So the Septuagint, Ethiopic, Arabic, and Anglo-Saxon. The Syriac, Before kings will I sing unto thee. This place has been alleged by the Roman Catholics as a proof that the holy angels, who are present in the assemblies of God's people, take their prayers and praises, and present them before God. There is nothing like this in the text; for supposing, which is not granted, that the word elohim here signifies angels, the praises are not presented to them, nor are they requested to present them before God; it is simply said, Before elohim will I sing praise unto Thee. Nor could there be need of any intermediate agents, when it was well known that God himself was present in the sanctuary, sitting between the cherubim. Therefore this opinion is wholly without support from this place.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 138:1-5
When we can praise God with our whole heart, we need not be unwilling for the whole world to witness our gratitude and joy in him. Those who rely on his loving-kindness and truth through Jesus Christ, will ever find him faithful to his word. If he spared not his own Son, how shall he not with him freely give us all things? If God gives us strength in our souls, to bear the burdens, resist the temptations, and to do the duties of an afflicted state, if he strengthens us to keep hold of himself by faith, and to wait with patience for the event, we are bound to be thankful.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 138:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אוֹדְךָ֥'od.KhaI will give thanks to youH3034
בְכָל\־ve.khol-with allH3605
לִבִּ֑יli.Biheart myH3820
נֶ֖גֶדNe.gedbeforeH5048
אֱלֹהִ֣ים'E.lo.Him[the] godsH430
אֲזַמְּרֶֽךָּ\׃'a.za.me.Re.kaI will sing praises to youH2167

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 138:1

  • Psalms 111:1

    Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

  • Psalms 95:3

    For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:15

    What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

  • Psalms 86:12-13

    I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

  • Psalms 96:4

    For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.

  • Psalms 119:46

    I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

  • Psalms 82:6

    I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

  • Psalms 103:1-2

    A Psalm of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

  • Psalms 9:1

    To the chief Musician upon Muth–labben, A Psalm of David. I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

  • John 10:34-36

    Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

  • Psalms 82:1

    A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

  • Exodus 22:28

    Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 David praises God for the truth of his word.
4 He prophesies that the kings of the earth shall praise God.
7 He professes his confidence in God.

A.M. 3485. B.C. 519. (Title.) A Psalm of David.Five MSS. omit {ledawid;} and the LXX. and Arabic prefix also the names of Haggai and Zechariah; and it is probable that it was composed to be sung at the dedication of the second temple.
I will praise.
9:1; 86:12,13; 103:1,2; 111:1; 1Co 14:15; Eph 5:19
with my whole.The versions and several MSS. add Jehovah.
before.
82:1,6; 119:46; Ex 22:28; Joh 10:34-36; Ac 23:5; Heb 1:14
the gods. Or, God. Elohim.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 138:1

    A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

  • Psalms 138:2

    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.

Read all of Psalms 138

Psalms 138:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Salmo de David. ALABARTE he con todo mi corazón: delante de los dioses te cantaré salmos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		De David. Je te célébrerai de tout mon cœur; je chanterai tes louanges devant les dieux.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Preisen will ich dich mit meinem ganzen Herzen, will dich besingen vor den Göttern.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In finem, psalmus David. Domine, probasti me, et cognovisti me;