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Psalm 138:1

By David. I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.

1By David. I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.
2I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth; for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all.
3In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.
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Psalm 138:2 →
Notice

David names his whole heart and his singing voice, making gratitude to God something inward that also takes audible form before others.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What would giving thanks with your whole heart sound like in words you could mean today?

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Where might singing praise to God feel exposed or out of place for you?

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What do you notice about David addressing God while singing before “the gods”?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

11 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
John 10:34Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?Both contain the word “gods”; the shared term alone does not establish that they refer to the same beings.
Psalm 9:1For the Chief Musician. Set to “The Death of the Son.” A Psalm by David. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart. I will tell of all your marvelous …Both psalms name David and express his resolve to thank God with his whole heart.
Psalm 111:1Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation.Both express wholehearted thanks to God before others, though Psalm 111 names the congregation as its setting.
Psalm 103:1By David. Praise the LORD, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name!David’s whole heart in Psalm 138 corresponds to his call for all that is within him to praise God.
Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in …Both join the heart with song directed to God; Colossians also places singing within the church’s teaching of one another.
Psalm 82:1A Psalm by Asaph. God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods.Both mention “the gods”: David sings praise to God before them, while Psalm 82 describes God judging among them.
1 Corinthians 14:15What should I do? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding …Both connect singing with inward engagement: David names his whole heart, while Paul names spirit and understanding.
Exodus 22:28“You shall not blaspheme God, nor curse a ruler of your people.The connection is limited: David directs praise to God, while Exodus forbids speech that dishonors God or a ruler.
1 Chronicles 29:10Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said, “You are blessed, LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever.Both portray David praising God before others; Chronicles identifies those present as the assembly.
Ephesians 5:19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;Both connect the heart with singing to the Lord, while Ephesians also describes believers speaking to one another.
Acts 23:5Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”The link is slight: David speaks praise to God; Paul quotes a rule against speaking evil of a ruler.
Where this verse fits

Gratitude. praise and worship.

What the Bible says about gratitude →What the Bible says about worship →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Sing Psalm 138:1 to God before breakfast

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Encouragement

The identity of “the gods” is debated; David’s allegiance is clear. His whole heart and his song are directed to God, who alone receives his praise.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 138:1. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 138 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).