Psalms – Chapter 138

Old Testament • 24 Verses

Chapter Summary

"Unto the end, a psalm of David. Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me:" — so begins Psalms 138. David stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 24 verses, two threads run through the text: worship and praise and repentance and conversion. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1Unto the end, a psalm of David. Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me:

2Thou hast known my sitting down, and my rising up.

3Thou hast understood my thoughts afar off: my path and my line thou hast searched out.

4And thou hast foreseen all my ways: for there is no speech in my tongue.

5Behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things, the last and those of old: thou hast formed me, and hast laid thy hand upon me.

6Thy knowledge is become wonderful to me: it is high, and I cannot reach to it.

7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy face?

8If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I descend into hell, thou art present.

9If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea:

10Even there also shall thy hand lead me: and thy right hand shall hold me.

11And I said: Perhaps darkness shall cover me: and night shall be my light in my pleasures.

12But darkness shall not be dark to thee, and night shall be light all the day: the darkness thereof, and the light thereof are alike to thee.

13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast protected me from my mother's womb.

14I will praise thee, for thou art fearfully magnified: wonderful are thy works, and my soul knoweth right well.

15My bone is not hidden from thee, which thou hast made in secret: and my substance in the lower parts of the earth.

16Thy eyes did see my imperfect being, and in thy book all shall be written: days shall be formed, and no one in them.

17But to me thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened.

18I will number them, and they shall be multiplied above the sand, I rose up and am still with thee.

19If thou wilt kill the wicked, O God: ye men of blood, depart from me:

20Because you say in thought: They shall receive thy cities in vain.

21Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hated thee: and pined away because of thy enemies?

22I have hated them with a perfect hatred: and they are become enemies to me.

23Prove me, O God, and know my heart: examine me, and know my paths.

24And see if there be in me the way of iniquity: and lead me in the eternal way.

Important Verses in Psalms 138

“Unto the end, a psalm of David. Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me:”

Psalms 138:1

“Behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things, the last and those of old: thou hast formed me, and hast laid thy hand upon me.”

Psalms 138:5

“But to me thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened.”

Psalms 138:17

“Prove me, O God, and know my heart: examine me, and know my paths.”

Psalms 138:23

Historical Context

Psalms addresses god's people at prayer in every age within the broader story of God's covenant people. Chapter 138 of 150 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a liturgical poem composed for Temple worship and personal prayer with 24 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. David appear at the center of the events recorded here. The passage starts with these words: "Unto the end, a psalm of David. Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me:" The chapter ends with: "And see if there be in me the way of iniquity: and lead me in the eternal way. " Read against its original backdrop, The 150 Psalms are the inspired prayer book of Israel and of the Church, spanning every human emotion—praise, lament, thanksgiving, repentance, and hope. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile.

Who Wrote It

David is credited with many psalms; others by Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, and anonymous psalmists

When It Was Written

Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, the psalmist voices praise, lament, thanksgiving, or petition before God. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Unto the end, a psalm of David. Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me:" The passage repeatedly touches on worship and praise.

According to Catholic interpretation, this chapter contributes to the book's portrait of prayer, praise, and the full range of human emotion before God. the Psalms are the prayer book of the Church, prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (CIC 2585-2589). The Catechism and the liturgy frequently draw on such passages to nourish faith and moral life (CIC 265).

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • ✓Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • ✓True conversion means turning away from sin and returning to God with our whole heart.
  • ✓True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

People in This Chapter

David1 mention

Reflection for Today

Catholic exegesis approaches Psalms Chapter 138 with reverence, seeking both the literal sense and the spiritual meaning ordered to Christ.

Catholic theology recognizes that prayer, praise, and the full range of human emotion before God is not an abstract idea but a reality encountered in prayer, sacraments, and charity. This chapter contributes to that vision by stressing justice, charity, and the common good.

Let Psalms Chapter 138 deepen your love for the Eucharist, where the Word made flesh continues to feed His people. The same Christ who speaks in Scripture offers Himself sacramentally on the altar.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Psalms Chapter 138 about?

Psalms 138 contains 24 verses. It opens with "Unto the end, a psalm of David. Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me:" and closes with "And see if there be in me the way of iniquity: and lead me in the eternal way. ". The book as a whole is liturgical poetry and prayer.

What is a key verse in Psalms 138?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Unto the end, a psalm of David. Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me:" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Psalms Chapter 138?

This chapter mentions David.

Who wrote Psalms and when?

David is credited with many psalms; others by Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, and anonymous psalmists. Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile.

Related Chapters

1 Kings 3Shares people and themes with this chapterSirach 24Shares people and themes with this chapterIsaiah 29Shares people and themes with this chapter

Prayers Related to This Chapter

🙏Gloria in Excelsis🙏The Divine Praises🙏Act of Contrition🙏The Confiteor

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