Corpus Psalterium · Vol. VI
Psalm CXXXVIII (138)
Cantillated — Individual Thanksgiving
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 138 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
By David.
I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.
לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ אוֹדְךָ֥ בְכָל־לִבִּ֑י נֶ֖גֶד אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲזַמְּרֶֽךָּ׃
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.
אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֨ה אֶל־הֵיכַ֪ל קָדְשְׁךָ֡ וְא֘וֹדֶ֤ה אֶת־שְׁמֶ֗ךָ עַל־חַסְדְּךָ֥ וְעַל־אֲמִתֶּ֑ךָ כִּֽי־הִגְדַּ֥לְתָּ עַל־כָּל־שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ אִמְרָתֶֽךָ׃
In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.
בְּי֣וֹם קָ֭רָֽאתִי וַֽתַּעֲנֵ֑נִי תַּרְהִבֵ֖נִי בְנַפְשִׁ֣י עֹֽז׃
All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh, for they have heard the words of your mouth.
יוֹד֣וּךָ יְ֭הוָה כָּל־מַלְכֵי־אָ֑רֶץ כִּ֥י שָׁ֝מְע֗וּ אִמְרֵי־פִֽיךָ׃
Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh, for Yahweh’s glory is great!
וְ֭יָשִׁירוּ בְּדַרְכֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֥י גָ֝ד֗וֹל כְּב֣וֹד יְהוָֽה׃
For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but he knows the proud from afar.
כִּי־רָ֣ם יְ֭הוָה וְשָׁפָ֣ל יִרְאֶ֑ה וְ֝גָבֹ֗הַּ מִמֶּרְחָ֥ק יְיֵדָֽע׃
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.
אִם־אֵלֵ֤ךְ ׀ בְּקֶ֥רֶב צָרָ֗ה תְּחַ֫יֵּ֥נִי עַ֤ל אַ֣ף אֹ֭יְבַי תִּשְׁלַ֣ח יָדֶ֑ךָ וְת֖וֹשִׁיעֵ֣נִי יְמִינֶֽךָ׃
Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me. Your loving kindness, Yahweh, endures forever. Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.
יְהוָה֮ יִגְמֹ֪ר בַּ֫עֲדִ֥י יְ֭הוָה חַסְדְּךָ֣ לְעוֹלָ֑ם מַעֲשֵׂ֖י יָדֶ֣יךָ אַל־תֶּֽרֶף׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
With everything in me
I thank You
in front of the gods
I play for You
I bow down
toward Your holy house
I thank Your name
for Your kindness
and Your truth
You made Your word
bigger than all Your fame
The day I called
You answered
You answered
You put fight in me
strength down in my soul
Every king on earth
will thank You LORD
when they hear
what Your mouth has said
they will sing about
the roads the LORD walks
how heavy
the LORD's glory is
The LORD is up high
still He sees the low
He sees the low
and the proud
He knows from far away
If I walk
right through the middle of trouble
You keep me breathing
against my enemies' anger
You reach out Your hand
Your right hand
pulls me through
The day I called
You answered
You answered
The LORD will finish
what He started in me
what He started in me
LORD
Your kindness goes on and on
don't drop
what Your hands have made
what Your hands have made
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.