Psalm 138 is the 138th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I will praise thee with my whole heart". In Latin, it is known as "Confitebor tibi Domine in toto corde meo". The psalm is a hymn psalm. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible and in the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 137. The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant liturgies. It has often been set to music, by composers including Claudio Monteverdi, Heinrich Schütz, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Michel Richard Delalande, Jan Dismas Zelenka, Josef Rheinberger and Stefans Grové.

History and content

Psalm 138 is the 138th psalm from the Book of Psalms, which is the first book of the Ketuvim ("Writings") in the Hebrew Bible, and is also a book of the Christian Old Testament. It is part of the final Davidic collection of psalms, comprising Psalms 138 through 145, which are specifically attributed to David in their opening verses. However, Dunn and Rogerson assert that the psalm was written as an expression of thankfulness after the return from exile in Babylon. This particular psalm describes that those who are close to God live in reality, and those who believe in human power live in a world of fantasy. The singer begins with individual thanks for God's lasting love and care. The hope that it will endure forever ends the psalm, framing the middle section which first calls to universal thanks and praise, and then mentions ongoing adversaries and trouble which the singer is sure to overcome with God's help.

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

King James Version

Verse 1

Alexander Kirkpatrick notes that the object of the psalmist's praise is not named, nor is it necessary that the should be named, although in certain "ancient versions", "the Lord" is added. Among modern translations, the New Revised Standard Version and the Modern English Version add "O Lord".

Uses

Judaism

Psalm 138 is traditionally recited as a psalm of thanks and gratitude to God. Verse 2 is recited during Selichot. Verse 4 is the verse said by the mule in Perek Shirah. Verses 3 and 8 are recited at the end of the Amidah by people whose names begin with the first letter of the verse and end with the last letter of the verse.

Catholic Church

Historically, this psalm was recited or sung at the office of Vespers on Wednesdays, according to the Rule of St. Benedict. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 138 is recited at Vespers on the Tuesday of the fourth week of the four weekly liturgical cycle. In the liturgy of the Mass, it is played on the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time of the year, the 5th and the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time of the year.

Musical settings

The psalm appeared in a rhymed version in the hymnal Genevan Psalter in the 1551 edition. German versions on the same melody, "Mein ganzes Herz erhebet dich", were published from the 18th century, and are part of Protestant and Catholic hymnals. Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 138 in German, "Aus meines Herzens Grunde" (From the bottom of my heart) as part of his settings of the Becker Psalter, published in 1628, SWV 243. Marc-Antoine Charpentier, 4 settings, (H.200, H.200 a, H.151, H.225, H.220), Michel Richard Delalande set the psalm in Latin, "Confitebor tibi Domine in toto corde meo", S.48, for soloists, chorus and orchestra in 1697. Henri Desmarets composed a setting for soloists, a five-part choir and orchestra in 1707. Jan Dismas Zelenka wrote 5 settings for soloists, chorus and orchestra, ZWV 70-73 and ZWV 100. François Giroust, one setting in 1764. Josef Rheinberger composed a four-part setting in Latin- "Confitebor tibi Domine" as No. 4 of his Fünf Motetten (Five motets), Op. 163, in 1885. The South African composer Stefans Grové wrote a setting for children's choir, choir, African drums, marimba, and string orchestra in 2002.

Cited sources