Psalms 138:1
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
I will praise you with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise to you.
American King James Version (AKJV)
I will praise you with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise to you.
American Standard Version (ASV)
I will give thee thanks with my whole heart: Before the gods will I sing praises unto thee.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
<Of David.> I will give you praise with all my heart: I will make melody to you before the gods.
Webster's Revision
A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise to thee.
World English Bible
I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.
English Revised Version (ERV)
A Psalm of David. I will give thee thanks with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praises unto thee.
Clarke's Psalms 138:1 Bible Commentary
I will praise thee with my whole heart - I have received the highest favors 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," etc.
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, Ethiopic, 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. Therefore this opinion is wholly without support from this place.
Barnes's Psalms 138:1 Bible Commentary
I will praise thee with my whole heart - Reserving nothing m my heart to give to idols or to other gods. All that constitutes praise to God as God, he would address to him alone. He would use no language, and cherish no feeling, which implied a belief that there was any other God; he would indulge in no attachment which would be inconsistent with supreme attachment to God, or which would tend to draw away his affections from him. See the notes at Psalm 9:1.
Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee - The idols; all idols; in preference to them all. This does not mean that he would do this in the presence of other gods; but that Yahweh should be acknowledged to be God in preference to any or all of them.
Wesley's Psalms 138:1 Bible Commentary
138:1 The gods - Before kings and princes.