The Meaning of Psalms 138:8 Explained

Psalms 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.

YLT: Jehovah doth perfect for me, O Jehovah, Thy kindness is to the age, The works of Thy hands let not fall!

Darby: Jehovah will perfect what concerneth me: thy loving-kindness, O Jehovah, endureth for ever; forsake not the works of thine own hands.

ASV: Jehovah will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, endureth for ever; Forsake not the works of thine own hands.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  will perfect  [that which] concerneth me: thy mercy,  O LORD,  [endureth] for ever:  forsake  not the works  of thine own hands. 

What does Psalms 138:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 138:1-8 - The Most High Regards The Lowly
This is the first of a cycle of Davidic psalms, based on 2 Samuel 7:1-29. God's promised favors are the theme of devout thanksgiving. No idols could have achieved such generous and great results. Even God had outdone Himself by magnifying His word above His name. Prayer had played its part, for in the day that it was offered it had been answered. Even kings in their various spheres would add their praises, Psalms 138:4. Yet this would be only the beginning of wonders. God can never rest with an incomplete or an unfinished work. When He puts His hand to the salvation of a soul, He pledges Himself to perfect the good work until the day of Jesus Christ, Philippians 1:6. Trust God, amid all disappointment and heartache. He will wipe away all tears, explain all mysteries, and place the topstone on the structure of your life. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 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

What do the individual words in Psalms 138:8 mean?

Yahweh will perfect [that which] concerns me Yahweh Your mercy [endures] forever the works of Your hands not do forsake
יְהוָה֮ יִגְמֹ֪ר בַּ֫עֲדִ֥י יְ֭הוָה חַסְדְּךָ֣ לְעוֹלָ֑ם מַעֲשֵׂ֖י יָדֶ֣יךָ אַל־ תֶּֽרֶף

יְהוָה֮  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יִגְמֹ֪ר  will  perfect 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּמַר  
Sense: to end, come to an end, complete, cease.
בַּ֫עֲדִ֥י  [that  which]  concerns  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: בַּעַד 
Sense: behind, through, round about, on behalf of, away from, about.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
חַסְדְּךָ֣  Your  mercy  [endures] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
לְעוֹלָ֑ם  forever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
מַעֲשֵׂ֖י  the  works 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
יָדֶ֣יךָ  of  Your  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, second person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
תֶּֽרֶף  do  forsake 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Jussive, second person masculine singular
Root: רָפָה  
Sense: to sink, relax, sink down, let drop, be disheartened.