Psalms 138
1 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].
A psalm of David. I thank you with my whole being; I sing your praises before the heavenly beings.
2 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.
I bow down before your holy Temple, and I am thankful because of who you are—for your trustworthy love and faithfulness—and for the fact that your promises are even greater than what people expect of you.
3 On the day when I called out to you, you answered me; you enabled me to be strong and brave.
On the day I cried out to you for help, you answered me. You encouraged me and made me strong.
4 Yahweh, [some day] all the kings of this earth will praise you, because they will have heard what you have said.
All the kings of the earth will praise you, Lord, for they have heard what you have said.
5 They will sing about what you have done; they will sing and say that you are very great.
They will sing about what the Lord has done and about the great glory of the Lord.
6 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].
Though the Lord is high above, he pays attention to the lowly; but he recognizes the proud a long way off.
7 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.
Even though I walk into a great deal of trouble, you protect me. You reach out to defend me from the anger of those who hate me—your strong hand saves me.
8 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.]
The Lord vindicates me! Lord, your trustworthy love lasts forever! Don't give up on what you have made!
