Psalm 138:4
New International Version
May all the kings of the earth praise you, LORD, when they hear what you have decreed.

New Living Translation
Every king in all the earth will thank you, LORD, for all of them will hear your words.

English Standard Version
All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth,

Berean Standard Bible
All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.

King James Bible
All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.

New King James Version
All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD, When they hear the words of Your mouth.

New American Standard Bible
All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, LORD, When they have heard the words of Your mouth.

NASB 1995
All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O LORD, When they have heard the words of Your mouth.

NASB 1977
All the kings of the earth will give thanks to Thee, O LORD, When they have heard the words of Thy mouth.

Legacy Standard Bible
All the kings of the earth, O Yahweh, will give You thanks, When they hear the words of Your mouth.

Amplified Bible
All the kings of the land will give thanks and praise You, O LORD, When they have heard of the promises of Your mouth [which were fulfilled].

Christian Standard Bible
All the kings on earth will give you thanks, LORD, when they hear what you have promised.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All the kings on earth will give You thanks, LORD, when they hear what You have promised.

American Standard Version
All the kings of the earth shall give thee thanks, O Jehovah, For they have heard the words of thy mouth.

Contemporary English Version
All kings on this earth have heard your promises, LORD, and they will praise you.

English Revised Version
All the kings of the earth shall give thee thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of thy mouth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All the kings of the earth will give thanks to you, O LORD, because they have heard the promises you spoke.

Good News Translation
All the kings in the world will praise you, LORD, because they have heard your promises.

International Standard Version
LORD, all the kings of the earth will give you thanks, for they have heard what you have spoken.

Majority Standard Bible
All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.

NET Bible
Let all the kings of the earth give thanks to you, O LORD, when they hear the words you speak.

New Heart English Bible
All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth.

Webster's Bible Translation
All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.

World English Bible
All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh, for they have heard the words of your mouth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
O YHWH, all kings of earth confess You, "" When they have heard the sayings of Your mouth.

Young's Literal Translation
O Jehovah, all kings of earth confess Thee, When they have heard the sayings of Thy mouth.

Smith's Literal Translation
All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Jehovah, for they heard the sayings of thy mouth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
May all the kings of the earth give glory to thee: for they have heard all the words of thy mouth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
May all the kings of the earth confess to you, O Lord. For they have heard all the words of your mouth.

New American Bible
All the kings of earth will praise you, LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth.

New Revised Standard Version
All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, for they have heard the words of thy mouth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
All the Kings of the Earth shall confess to you, LORD JEHOVAH, because they have heard the speech of your mouth!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
All the kings of the earth shall give Thee thanks, O LORD, For they have heard the words of Thy mouth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Let all the kings of the earth, o Lord, give thanks unto thee; for they have heard all the words of thy mouth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
I Will Give You Thanks with All My Heart
3On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul. 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.…

Cross References
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.

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 45:23
By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.

Romans 14:11
It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.”

Revelation 21:24
By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory.

Psalm 72:11
May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

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

Revelation 19:16
And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Psalm 22:27-28
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him. / For dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.

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.

Daniel 7:14
And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Revelation 11:15
Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”

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

Isaiah 60:3
Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Matthew 28:18
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.


Treasury of Scripture

All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth.

all the kings

Psalm 72:11
Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

Psalm 102:15,22
So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory…

Isaiah 49:23
And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

when they hear

Psalm 22:22,27
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee…

Psalm 51:13
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Psalm 69:30-32
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving…

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Celebrate Confess Ears Earth Hear Heard Kings Mouth Praise Sayings Thanks Words
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














All the kings of the earth
This phrase suggests a universal acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. In biblical times, kings were seen as the highest earthly authority, and their recognition of God signifies a profound submission to divine authority. This can be connected to prophecies in the Old Testament, such as in Isaiah 49:7, where it is foretold that kings will see and arise, and princes will bow down. It also echoes the vision in Revelation 21:24, where the kings of the earth bring their glory into the New Jerusalem, indicating a future fulfillment where all earthly powers recognize God's ultimate rule.

will give You thanks, O LORD
The act of giving thanks is a form of worship and acknowledgment of God's goodness and provision. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, thanksgiving was often expressed through sacrifices and offerings, as seen in Leviticus 7:12-15. This phrase implies a future time when even the most powerful rulers will express gratitude to God, recognizing His hand in their affairs. It reflects the biblical theme that all creation is ultimately designed to glorify God, as seen in Psalm 145:10, where all God's works are said to give thanks to Him.

when they hear the words of Your mouth
This phrase highlights the power and authority of God's word. In the biblical narrative, God's words are often associated with creation, revelation, and judgment. For instance, in Genesis 1, God speaks the world into existence, and in the prophetic books, His words bring both warning and hope. The phrase suggests that the kings' acknowledgment and thanksgiving are a response to divine revelation. This can be linked to the New Testament, where Jesus is described as the Word made flesh (John 1:14), indicating that the ultimate revelation of God's word is found in Christ. The hearing of God's words implies a transformation that leads to recognition and worship, as seen in Romans 10:17, where faith comes from hearing the message of Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Kings of the Earth
This phrase refers to the rulers and leaders of various nations. In the context of this Psalm, it signifies a universal acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and the power of His word.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal existence and faithfulness to His promises. The LORD is the central figure to whom thanks and praise are directed.

3. The Words of Your Mouth
This refers to God's divine revelation, His commandments, and promises. It highlights the power and authority of God's spoken word.
Teaching Points
Universal Recognition of God's Sovereignty
The verse anticipates a time when all leaders will acknowledge God's authority. Believers can take comfort in knowing that God's sovereignty will ultimately be recognized by all.

The Power of God's Word
The "words of Your mouth" emphasize the transformative power of God's word. Christians are encouraged to immerse themselves in Scripture, trusting in its ability to change hearts and minds.

The Role of Believers in Proclaiming God's Word
As God's ambassadors, believers have the responsibility to share His word, contributing to the fulfillment of this prophecy where all will hear and give thanks.

Thanksgiving as a Response to Revelation
The appropriate response to hearing God's word is thanksgiving. Believers should cultivate a heart of gratitude, recognizing the privilege of knowing God's truth.(4, 5) The general sense of these verses is plain, though there are slightly different ways of understanding the expressions. The psalmist imagines that the word or promise, which has been so abundantly fulfilled, will, by its performance, convince all the kings of the earth, and bring them in confession and praise to Jehovah. For a Hebrew the expression "hear the words of Thy mouth," referring in this instance immediately back to Psalm 138:2, was synonymous with "see Thy wonders," since for them "God spoke and it was done."

Verse 4. - All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord. The world shall be converted to thy worship when it is seen how promptly and fully thou answerest prayer (comp. Psalm 68:31, 32; Psalm 102:15). When they hear the words of thy mouth. The promises that thou makest, and thy performance of them.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
All
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the kings
מַלְכֵי־ (mal·ḵê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of the earth
אָ֑רֶץ (’ā·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

will give You thanks,
יוֹד֣וּךָ (yō·w·ḏū·ḵā)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3034: To throw, at, away, to revere, worship, to bemoan

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

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

they hear
שָׁ֝מְע֗וּ (mə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

the words
אִמְרֵי־ (’im·rê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 561: Something said

of Your mouth.
פִֽיךָ׃ (p̄î·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to


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OT Poetry: Psalm 138:4 All the kings of the earth will (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 138:3
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