Psalms 138

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

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 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.

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 when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst 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 shall praise thee, O Yhwh, when they hear the words of thy mouth.

Yahweh, [some day] all the kings of this earth will praise you, because they will have heard what you have said.

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

They will sing about what you have done; they will sing and say that you are very great.

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

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 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.

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