New International Version
Psalms 138:6
6Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.
Context of Psalms 138:6
4May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord, when they hear what you have decreed. 5May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar. 7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me. 8The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.
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 51:17My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.
- Psalms 113:5Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high,
- 1 Samuel 2:7The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.
- Proverbs 3:34He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
- Isaiah 57:15For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
- Isaiah 66:2Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.
- Luke 1:51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
- Luke 14:11For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
- Luke 18:14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
- James 4:6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
- 1 Peter 5:5In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
- Exodus 18:11Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”
- Job 40:11Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at all who are proud and bring them low,
- Isaiah 2:11The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; 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, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
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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