--- title: "Psalms 138 - Study King James Bible with clarkes commentary" description: "Read Psalms 138 with clarkes commentary commentary. 1 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. 2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for t" image: "/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary/psalms/138" --- [ Read](/kjv/psalms/138)[ Commentary](/study/psalms/138)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/psalms/138) Audio 1 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. 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. 3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, *and* strengthenedst me *with* strength in my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth. 5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great *is* the glory of the LORD. 6 Though the LORD *be* high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. 7 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. 8 The LORD will perfect *that which* concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, *endureth* for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. [Psalms 137](/study/psalms/137) [Psalms 139](/study/psalms/139) ## Commentary To verse 1 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 [Psalms 138:1](/kjv/psalms/138/1). ***I will praise thee with my whole heart*** — I have received the highest favours 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," c. ***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, AEthiopic, 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. 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