Psalms 138
1 By David. I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.
Yahweh, I thank you with all my inner being. I sing to praise you in front of [the idols of false] gods [to ridicule/belittle them].
2 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 bow down while I look towards your sacred temple, and I thank you [MTY] because you faithfully love [us] and faithfully do all that you have promised. You have shown that both you [MTY] and what you have promised to do are greater than anything else.
3 In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.
On the day when I called out to you, you answered me; you enabled me to be strong and brave.
4 All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh, for they have heard the words of your mouth.
Yahweh, [some day] all the kings of this earth will praise you, because they will have heard what you have said.
5 Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh, for Yahweh’s glory is great!
They will sing about what you have done; they will sing and say that you are very great.
6 For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but he knows the proud from afar.
Yahweh, you are supreme, but you take care of people [who are considered to be] unimportant. And you know what proud people [are doing], even though they are far away [from you and think that you do not see them].
7 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.
When I am in the midst of [many] troubles/difficulties, you save/rescue me. With your hand/power [MTY] you rescue me from my enemies who are angry at me.
8 Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me. Your loving kindness, Yahweh, endures forever. Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.
Yahweh, you will do for me everything that you promised; you faithfully love [us] forever. Finish what you started to do [for us, your Israeli people.]
