Psalm 138:5
New International Version
May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.

New Living Translation
Yes, they will sing about the LORD’s ways, for the glory of the LORD is very great.

English Standard Version
and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.

King James Bible
Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.

New King James Version
Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, For great is the glory of the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
And they will sing of the ways of the LORD, For great is the glory of the LORD.

NASB 1995
And they will sing of the ways of the LORD, For great is the glory of the LORD.

NASB 1977
And they will sing of the ways of the LORD. For great is the glory of the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
And they will sing of the ways of Yahweh, For great is the glory of Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
Yes, they will sing of the ways of the LORD [joyfully celebrating His wonderful acts], For great is the glory and majesty of the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
They will sing of the LORD’s ways, for the LORD’s glory is great.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They will sing of the LORD’s ways, for the LORD’s glory is great.

American Standard Version
Yea, they shall sing of the ways of Jehovah; For great is the glory of Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
You are so famous that they will sing about the things you have done.

English Revised Version
Yea, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD; for great is the glory of the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They will sing this about the ways of the LORD: "The LORD's honor is great!"

Good News Translation
They will sing about what you have done and about your great glory.

International Standard Version
They will sing about the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD!

Majority Standard Bible
They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.

NET Bible
Let them sing about the LORD's deeds, for the LORD's splendor is magnificent.

New Heart English Bible
Yes, they will sing of the ways of the LORD; for great is the LORD's glory.

Webster's Bible Translation
Yes, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.

World English Bible
Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh, for Yahweh’s glory is great!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they sing in the ways of YHWH, "" For the glory of YHWH [is] great.

Young's Literal Translation
And they sing in the ways of Jehovah, For great is the honour of Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they shall sing in the ways of Jehovah: for great the glory of Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And let them sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And let them sing in accordance with the ways of the Lord. For great is the glory of the Lord.

New American Bible
They will sing of the ways of the LORD: “How great is the glory of the LORD!”

New Revised Standard Version
They shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Yea, they shall praise the ways of the LORD; for great is the glory of the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they will praise the way of LORD JEHOVAH, because the honor of LORD JEHOVAH is great!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Yea, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD; For great is the glory of the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And let them sing in the ways of the Lord; for great is the glory of the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
I Will Give You Thanks with All My Heart
4All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth. 5They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great. 6Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.…

Cross References
Isaiah 6:3
And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.”

Revelation 4:8
And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Philippians 2:10-11
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Isaiah 42:8
I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.

Revelation 15:4
Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. / For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. / Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Habakkuk 2:14
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

Revelation 5:12-13
In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” / And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!”

Isaiah 66:18
“And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.

Psalm 72:19
And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.

Romans 15:9-11
so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name.” / Again, it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” / And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and extol Him, all you peoples.”

Isaiah 2:2-3
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. / And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Zechariah 14:9
On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—the LORD alone, and His name alone.

Ephesians 3:21
to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 86:9
All the nations You have made will come and bow before You, O Lord, and they will glorify Your name.


Treasury of Scripture

Yes, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.

they shall

Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! …

Isaiah 65:14
Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

Isaiah 66:10-14
Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: …

for great

Psalm 21:5
His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.

Exodus 15:11
Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Exodus 33:18,19
And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory…

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Glory Great Honour Sing Songs Ways
Psalm 138
1. David praises God for the truth of his word
4. He prophesies that the kings of the earth shall praise God
7. He professes his confidence in God














They will sing of the ways of the LORD
This phrase emphasizes the response of worship and praise from those who recognize the works and character of God. In biblical context, singing is a common expression of joy and reverence, seen throughout the Psalms and other parts of Scripture (e.g., Exodus 15:1, Psalm 96:1-2). The "ways of the LORD" refer to His actions, commandments, and the manner in which He governs the world. This aligns with the biblical theme of God's people declaring His deeds among the nations (Psalm 105:1). Historically, singing was a communal activity in Israelite culture, often accompanied by instruments, and was integral to worship in the temple (1 Chronicles 15:16). This phrase also points to the prophetic vision of all nations acknowledging God's sovereignty, as seen in Isaiah 2:3.

for the glory of the LORD is great
The "glory of the LORD" is a central theme in Scripture, representing His majesty, holiness, and the manifestation of His presence. The Hebrew word for glory, "kavod," conveys weightiness and honor. This phrase underscores the reason for the praise mentioned earlier: God's glory is not only inherent but also revealed through His works and interactions with humanity. The greatness of God's glory is a recurring theme, as seen in passages like Exodus 33:18-23, where Moses asks to see God's glory, and Isaiah 6:3, where the seraphim proclaim His holiness. Theologically, this points to the ultimate revelation of God's glory in Jesus Christ, who is described as the "radiance of God's glory" (Hebrews 1:3). The acknowledgment of God's great glory is a call to worship and a reminder of His supreme authority over all creation.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 138, David was the second king of Israel, known for his deep relationship with God and his role in establishing Jerusalem as the center of worship.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal existence and faithfulness to His promises.

3. The Nations
Refers to the peoples of the earth who will recognize and praise the greatness of God, as mentioned in the broader context of the psalm.
Teaching Points
The Universality of God's Glory
God's glory is not limited to Israel but is recognized by all nations. This calls us to share the knowledge of God with others, emphasizing His greatness and deeds.

The Importance of Worship
Singing of the ways of the LORD is an act of worship. We are encouraged to incorporate worship into our daily lives, acknowledging God's greatness in all circumstances.

God's Ways as a Testimony
The ways of the LORD serve as a testimony to His character and deeds. As believers, we should strive to understand and follow God's ways, allowing our lives to reflect His glory.

The Role of Praise in Evangelism
When we praise God openly, it can serve as a powerful witness to those around us, drawing others to recognize and honor God's greatness.(5) In the ways.--Rather, of the ways, this preposition being so used frequently after verbs of speaking praising (comp. Psalm 20:7; Psalm 44:8; Psalm 87:3; Psalm 105:2), though there is no parallel instance of such a use with this particular verb sing.

For ways used of God's mighty works in creation see Job 26:14; Job 40:19; of His action in history, Psalm 18:30; Deuteronomy 32:4. It seems against the parallelism to understand literally that the heathen kings would come to walk in God's ways--i.e., in righteousness, and so praise Him, as in Micah 4:2. The meaning is that heathen monarchs will be compelled to acknowledge the glory of Jehovah. . . .

Verse 5. - Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord. They, i.e. the kings, shall sing, no longer in their own misguided heathen ways, but in the ways of the Lord, in the mode prescribed by his Law and practiced in his temple (comp. Isaiah 49:22, 23; Isaiah 60:8-5, etc.). For great is the glory of the Lord. (cf. Isaiah 60:1-3; Isaiah 66:18.) It is this "glory" which attracts "all nations and tongues."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They will sing
וְ֭יָשִׁירוּ (wə·yā·šî·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7891: To sing

of the ways
בְּדַרְכֵ֣י (bə·ḏar·ḵê)
Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

of the LORD,
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

for
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the glory
כְּב֣וֹד (kə·ḇō·wḏ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3519: Weight, splendor, copiousness

of the LORD
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

is great.
גָ֝ד֗וֹל (ḡā·ḏō·wl)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent


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OT Poetry: Psalm 138:5 Yes they will sing of the ways (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 138:4
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