Psalm 138:8 kjv
The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
Psalm 138:8 nkjv
The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Psalm 138:8 niv
The LORD will vindicate me; your love, LORD, endures forever? do not abandon the works of your hands.
Psalm 138:8 esv
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Psalm 138:8 nlt
The LORD will work out his plans for my life ?
for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever.
Don't abandon me, for you made me.
Psalm 138 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Num 23:19 | "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it?" | God's faithfulness and unchanging purpose. |
| 1 Sam 12:22 | "For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake" | God's commitment to His people, tied to His character. |
| Pss 37:24 | "...though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand." | God's support preventing total abandonment. |
| Pss 57:2 | "I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me." | Direct echo of Ps 138:8 concerning God's fulfillment. |
| Pss 94:14 | "For the LORD will not forsake His people, Nor will He abandon His heritage." | God's covenant loyalty and preservation. |
| Pss 100:5 | "For the LORD is good; His steadfast love endures forever..." | God's chesed and its eternal duration. |
| Pss 103:8 | "The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love." | Nature of God's enduring steadfast love (chesed). |
| Pss 136:1 | "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His steadfast love endures forever." | Repetitive affirmation of God's eternal love. |
| Lam 3:22-23 | "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end..." | God's unfailing mercies and chesed. |
| Jer 29:11 | "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." | God's predetermined good purposes for individuals. |
| Isa 43:7 | "...everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made.” | Humanity as God's creation, for His glory. |
| Isa 64:8 | "But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand." | Humankind as God's handiwork, like clay. |
| Hab 3:2 | "...O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years!" | A plea for God to continue His work. |
| Phil 1:6 | "...He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." | God's commitment to complete the work He starts. |
| 1 Thess 5:24 | "He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it." | God's faithfulness to complete what He promises. |
| Heb 13:5 | "...“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”" | Assurance of God's continual presence and non-abandonment. |
| 1 Pet 5:10 | "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you...will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." | God's ultimate restoration and establishment. |
| Jude 24 | "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless..." | God's power to preserve and present perfect. |
| Eph 2:10 | "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works..." | Believers as God's deliberate creation and ongoing work. |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." | God's working all things for good according to His purpose. |
| Rom 11:29 | "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." | God's unchangeable call and gifts. |
Psalm 138 verses
Psalm 138 8 Meaning
Psalm 138:8 expresses a profound trust in the LORD's unfailing commitment to complete His purposes for an individual, underpinned by His enduring steadfast love. It is a declaration of confidence in God's sovereignty and faithfulness, followed by a humble yet firm petition that God will not abandon the one He has created and started to work upon. It encapsulates the dynamic between divine initiative and human reliance, affirming God's active involvement in the life of His beloved.
Psalm 138 8 Context
Psalm 138 is a psalm of individual thanksgiving. David begins by expressing profound gratitude to the LORD "with all my heart" (v. 1) for God's steadfast love and faithfulness in answering his prayers and exalting His name (v. 2-3). The psalmist acknowledges God's universal dominion and renown, proclaiming that "all the kings of the earth" will praise the LORD when they hear of His faithfulness (v. 4-5). This cosmic view of God's sovereignty leads into the deeply personal assurance of verse 8. Despite the exalted position of "kings" or potential personal troubles ("enemies" in v. 7), David remains confident that God will preserve his life and bring His work to completion. The psalm contrasts human pride and the LORD's care for the humble, creating a framework where personal trust flows from God's universal attributes. The context establishes David's experiential knowledge of God's active deliverance, setting the stage for his strong declaration of God's ongoing commitment.
Psalm 138 8 Word analysis
- The LORD (יְהוָה – Yahweh): This is the personal, covenantal name of God, revealing His self-existent and active presence. It emphasizes God's relational commitment and His reliable character as the One who is, and who brings His promises to pass. It signifies a profound, intimate relationship, foundational to the psalmist's trust.
- will fulfill (יִגְמֹר – yigmor from גָּמַר - gamar): Means "to complete," "to finish," "to bring to perfection or maturity." It's not just about doing a thing, but completing something already begun and bringing it to its intended conclusion. The imperfect tense indicates an ongoing, future certainty. It implies that God doesn't leave His work unfinished or in a state of imperfection.
- His purpose for me (בַּעֲדִי – ba'adi and implied context): The phrase ba'adi literally means "on my behalf," "for me," or "concerning me." In this context, combined with gamar, it refers to "that which concerns me," encompassing God's sovereign plans and designs for David's life. It signifies God's personal involvement and specific blueprint for each individual.
- Your steadfast love (חַסְדְּךָ – chasdeka, from חֶסֶד – chesed): This is one of the most significant terms in the Old Testament, denoting a rich combination of loyal love, covenant faithfulness, mercy, kindness, and devotion. It's a love rooted in an unbreakable covenant relationship, enduring beyond circumstances and always directed towards its object with faithfulness. It's not just emotion, but active commitment.
- O LORD (יְהוָה – Yahweh): The repetition of God's covenant name emphasizes the source and immutable nature of this steadfast love. It's a personal address, reinforcing the psalmist's direct communication with the sovereign God.
- endures forever (לְעוֹלָם – le'olam): Signifies eternity, perpetuity, and unchangeability. It underscores the everlasting quality of God's chesed. God's loyal love is not temporary or contingent on human performance; it is eternally steadfast.
- Do not forsake (לֹא־תַרְפֶּה – lo-tarpeh): A strong plea in the negative imperative, meaning "do not relax your hand," "do not let go," "do not abandon," "do not neglect." It’s not a doubt in God’s ability or character, but a prayerful expression of dependence, seeking divine perseverance in His ongoing work in David's life. It acknowledges the psalmist's vulnerability while affirming God's power to sustain.
- the works of Your hands (מַעֲשֵׂי יָדֶיךָ – ma'aseh yadeykha): This phrase typically refers to creation (like Ps 8:6, Isa 64:8). Here, it specifically refers to David himself as God's deliberate creation, someone whom God has "made" and "formed." It highlights the psalmist’s identity as divinely purposed and sculpted. The plea not to forsake these "works" means God should continue His active, sustaining, and perfecting work in the life of the one He has called into being and begun to shape.
Psalm 138 8 Bonus section
- The structure of Psalm 138:8 – beginning with a confident declaration and concluding with a dependent prayer – mirrors a common pattern in psalms that intertwine divine truth with human experience and response. It teaches believers to root their petitions in who God is and what He has already promised and demonstrated.
- The use of Yahweh twice in this short verse underscores the deeply personal and covenantal nature of the truths presented. It is not an abstract force, but the specific, revealed God of Israel who "will fulfill His purpose" and whose "steadfast love endures."
- The phrase "works of Your hands" emphasizes divine craftsmanship and ownership. Just as an artist does not abandon a masterpiece in progress, God, the supreme Artist, will not abandon His creation or the spiritual masterpiece He is forming in His children. This highlights human worth and purpose as divinely initiated.
Psalm 138 8 Commentary
Psalm 138:8 is a powerful affirmation of God's comprehensive care, blending deep theological conviction with humble personal plea. The psalmist expresses absolute certainty in God's capacity and intention to bring His specific purposes for an individual to full completion (gamar). This confidence is anchored in the foundational truth of God's chesed—His covenantal, enduring, loyal love that lasts forever. It's because God is eternally loving and faithful that His plans cannot fail and His creative work will not be abandoned.
The final plea, "Do not forsake the works of Your hands," is not a sign of doubt but a prayer reflecting profound reliance. It is an understanding that while God's sovereignty is absolute, He also desires His people to lean into that sovereignty with active, humble supplication. David, acknowledging himself as God's "handiwork," prays for God's continuous preservation, guidance, and perfecting power. It implies that spiritual growth and perseverance are not merely human endeavors but require God's ongoing touch and commitment to the "work" He started in creation and continues through redemption. This verse encourages believers to trust that the God who begins a work of grace within them is also the God who will see it through to completion, ensuring their ultimate sanctification and glorification. It brings immense comfort in seasons of uncertainty, reminding believers that their ultimate future is securely in God's unyielding hand.