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David wrote this song.

Thank God for who he is

138 I will thank you, Lord, with my whole being.
I will sing and praise you in front of the gods.[a]
I look towards your holy temple,
    and I bend down to worship you.
I thank you for who you are.
    You love your people and they can always trust you.
You are more famous than anyone,
    because you always do what you promise.
When I prayed to you, you answered me.
    You made me brave and strong.
All the kings in the world will thank you, Lord,
    when they hear the promises that you have made.
They will sing about the things that you have done,
    because they see that you are great, Lord.
Yes, the Lord is high above the earth.
    But he takes care of humble people.
He also knows what proud people are doing,
    even if they try to hide.[b]
When there is danger all round me,
    you help me to be strong.
When my enemy is angry, you fight against him.
    You save me with your strong right hand.[c]
The Lord stands with me to do what he has promised.
    Yes, Lord, your faithful love will always continue.
You have made us who we are,
    so do not leave us now!

Footnotes

  1. 138:1 ‘gods’ or ‘angels’. David may be telling the false gods that the Lord is the only true God.
  2. 138:6 This is about two groups of people: humble people and proud people. God is high above us in heaven. But he can still see people who need help. He also sees the proud people. There is nowhere for them to hide.
  3. 138:7 God's ‘strong right hand’ means his power to work.

138 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

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.

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth.

Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.

Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

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 Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.