Psalm 138:6
New International Version
Though the LORD is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.

New Living Translation
Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.

English Standard Version
For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.

Berean Standard Bible
Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.

King James Bible
Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

New King James Version
Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.

New American Standard Bible
For the LORD is exalted, Yet He looks after the lowly, But He knows the haughty from afar.

NASB 1995
For though the LORD is exalted, Yet He regards the lowly, But the haughty He knows from afar.

NASB 1977
For though the LORD is exalted, Yet He regards the lowly; But the haughty He knows from afar.

Legacy Standard Bible
For Yahweh is high, Yet He sees the lowly, But the one who exalts himself He knows from afar.

Amplified Bible
Though the LORD is exalted, He regards the lowly [and invites them into His fellowship]; But the proud and haughty He knows from a distance.

Christian Standard Bible
Though the LORD is exalted, he takes note of the humble; but he knows the haughty from a distance.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Though the LORD is exalted, He takes note of the humble; but He knows the haughty from a distance.

American Standard Version
For though Jehovah is high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly; But the haughty he knoweth from afar.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And high is LORD JEHOVAH who sees in the deep, and he who is exalted knows from afar off!

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the Lord is high, and yet regards the lowly; and he knows high things from afar off.

Contemporary English Version
Though you are above us all, you care for humble people, and you keep a close watch on everyone who is proud.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For the Lord is high, and looketh on the low: and the high he knoweth afar off.

English Revised Version
For though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the haughty he knoweth from afar.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Even though the LORD is high above, he sees humble people [close up], and he recognizes arrogant people from a distance.

Good News Translation
Even though you are so high above, you care for the lowly, and the proud cannot hide from you.

International Standard Version
Though the LORD is highly exalted, yet he pays attention to those who are lowly regarded, but he is aware of the arrogant from afar.

JPS Tanakh 1917
For though the LORD be high, yet regardeth He the lowly, And the haughty He knoweth from afar.

Literal Standard Version
For YHWH [is] high, and He sees the lowly, | And He knows the haughty from afar.

Majority Standard Bible
Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.

New American Bible
The LORD is on high, but cares for the lowly and knows the proud from afar.

NET Bible
Though the LORD is exalted, he takes note of the lowly, and recognizes the proud from far away.

New Revised Standard Version
For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away.

New Heart English Bible
For though the LORD is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but the proud, he knows from afar.

Webster's Bible Translation
Though the LORD is high, yet hath he respect to the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

World English Bible
For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but he knows the proud from afar.

Young's Literal Translation
For high is Jehovah, and the lowly He seeth, And the haughty from afar He knoweth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
I Will Give You Thanks with All My Heart
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. 7If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me from the anger of my foes; You extend Your hand, and Your right hand saves me.…

Cross References
Luke 1:48
For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.

James 4:6
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Psalm 18:35
You have given me Your shield of salvation; Your right hand upholds me, and Your gentleness exalts me.

Psalm 40:4
Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

Psalm 101:5
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.

Psalm 113:4
The LORD is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens.


Treasury of Scripture

Though the LORD be high, yet has he respect to the lowly: but the proud he knows afar off.

though

Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Psalm 113:5,6
Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, …

1 Samuel 2:7,8
The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up…

but the proud

Exodus 18:11
Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

Job 40:11,12
Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him…

Isaiah 2:11,17
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day…

afar off

Psalm 139:2
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Matthew 25:41
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

2 Thessalonians 1:9
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

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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














(6) Knoweth afar off.--Or, recognises from afar. From His exaltation Jehovah looks down alike on the lowly and on the proud, but it is to show a gracious interest in the former, while the latter are merely marked as persons to be kept at a distance. "Lowliness and humility are the court dress of God; he who wears them will please Him well."

Verse 6. - Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly. Notwithstanding all God's glory and greatness, he condescends to look upon the lowly, to consider their needs, and to supply them (comp. Isaiah 57:15). Hence David feels sure that he will not be overlooked (see vers. 7, 8). But the proud he knoweth afar off. God keeps proud men at a distance, does not draw near to them, much less make his abode with them, but leaves them to themselves until they are ripe for punishment.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Though
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

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

is on high,
רָ֣ם (rām)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7311: To be high actively, to rise, raise

He attends
יִרְאֶ֑ה (yir·’eh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

to the lowly;
וְשָׁפָ֣ל (wə·šā·p̄āl)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 8217: Depressed

but the proud
וְ֝גָבֹ֗הַּ (wə·ḡā·ḇō·ah)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1364: Elevated, powerful, arrogant

He knows
יְיֵדָֽע׃ (yə·yê·ḏā‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

from afar.
מִמֶּרְחָ֥ק (mim·mer·ḥāq)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4801: Remoteness, a distant place, from afar


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OT Poetry: Psalm 138:6 For though Yahweh is high yet he (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 138:5
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