< Psalms 138 >
1 [By David.] I will give you thanks, YHWH, with my whole heart. Before the gods I will sing praises to you.
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 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.
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 that I called, you answered me. You encouraged 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 will give you thanks, YHWH, for they have heard the words of your mouth.
Yahweh, [some day] all the kings of this earth will praise you, because they will have heard what you have said.
5 Yes, they will sing of the ways of YHWH; for great is YHWH's glory.
They will sing about what you have done; they will sing and say that you are very great.
6 For though YHWH is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but the proud, he knows from afar.
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, you will revive me. You will stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will 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 fulfill that which concerns me; your loving kindness, YHWH, endures forever. Do not forsake the works of your 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.]