New Living Translation
Psalms 138:6
6Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.
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
4Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord, for all of them will hear your words. 5Yes, they will sing about the Lord’s ways, for the glory of the Lord is very great. Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. 7Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. 8The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.
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 sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
- Psalms 113:5Who can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high?
- 1 Samuel 2:7The Lord makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up.
- Proverbs 3:34The Lord mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble.
- Isaiah 57:15The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.
- Isaiah 66:2My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.
- Luke 1:51His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
- Luke 14:11For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
- Luke 18:14I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
- James 4:6And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
- 1 Peter 5:5In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
- Exodus 18:11I know now that the Lord is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.”
- Job 40:11Give vent to your anger. Let it overflow against the proud.
- Isaiah 2:11Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the Lord will be exalted on that day of judgment.
- Ezekiel 28:1Then this message came to me from the Lord:
- Daniel 4:37“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud.”
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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