New English Translation
Psalms 138:6
6Though the Lord is exalted, he takes note of the lowly, and recognizes the proud from far away.
Psalms 138:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
- New International Version (NIV)Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.
Context of Psalms 138:6
4Let all the kings of the earth give thanks to you, O Lord, when they hear the words you speak. 5Let them sing about the Lord’s deeds, for the Lord’s splendor is magnificent. Though the Lord is exalted, he takes note of the lowly, and recognizes the proud from far away. 7Even when I must walk in the midst of danger, you revive me. You oppose my angry enemies, and your right hand delivers me. 8The Lord avenges me. O Lord, your loyal love endures. Do not abandon those whom you have made!
Read all of Psalms 138Psalms 138:6 word by word
כִּי־רָ֣ם יְ֭הוָה וְשָׁפָ֣ל יִרְאֶ֑ה וְ֝גָבֹ֗הַּ מִמֶּרְחָ֥ק יְיֵדָֽע׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 138:6
- Psalms 51:17The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit – O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.
- Psalms 113:5Who can compare to the Lord our God, who sits on a high throne?
- 1 Samuel 2:7The Lord impoverishes and makes wealthy; he humbles and he exalts.
- Proverbs 3:34Although he is scornful to arrogant scoffers, yet he shows favor to the humble.
- Isaiah 57:15For this is what the high and exalted one says, the one who rules forever, whose name is holy: “I dwell in an exalted and holy place, but also with the discouraged and humiliated, in order to cheer up the humiliated and to encourage the discouraged.
- Isaiah 66:2My hand made them; that is how they came to be,” says the Lord. I show special favor to the humble and contrite, who respect what I have to say.
- Luke 1:51He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts.
- Luke 14:11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Luke 18:14I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- James 4:6But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.”
- 1 Peter 5:5In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
- Exodus 18:11Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods, for in the thing in which they dealt proudly against them he has destroyed them.”
- Job 40:11Scatter abroad the abundance of your anger. Look at every proud man and bring him low;
- Isaiah 2:11Proud men will be brought low, arrogant men will be humiliated; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
- Ezekiel 28:1The word of the Lord came to me:
- Daniel 4:37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all his deeds are right and his ways are just. He is able to bring down those who live in pride.
Commentaries on Psalms 138:6
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Though the Lord be high - This might be rendered “For lofty is Yahweh - and the humble he sees - and the proud he knows from afar.” The idea is, that God - so high and exalted - sees and knows all of every rank among people. The mind of the psalmist had been impressed with a sense of the greatness and majesty of God, but (as if it might be said that one so great could not regard man, so humble and insignificant) he adds, that the fact of God‘s exaltation…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-8Verses 6-8 Though the Lord is high, yet he has respect to every lowly, humbled sinner; but the proud and unbelieving will be banished far from his blissful presence. Divine consolations have enough in them to revive us, even when we walk in the midst of troubles. And God will save his own people that they may be revived by the Holy Spirit, the Giver of life and holiness. If we give to God the glory of his mercy, we may take to ourselves the comfort. This…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6God is holy and great, far beyond human understanding (see Psalms 99:2; 113:4; Isaiah 6:1; 57:15).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-76-7. On this general principle of God's government (Is 2:11; 57:15; 66:2), he relies for God's favor in saving him, and overthrowing his enemies. knoweth afar off--their ways and deserts (Psa 1:6).Read the comment
- Rashi on Tanakh · v. 6He chastises Heb. יידע, chastises, like (Jud. 8:16): “and with them he broke (ויודע) the men of Succoth.”Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 138:6
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 138
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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