Psalms 138 in the early church
46 passages quote, allude to, or echo Psalms 138, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8
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Psalms 138:1
Of David. I give You thanks with all my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ps 138:1 (137:1 Vulg.) | Homily on Luke 23 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 233–250 |
| Ps 138:1 (137:1 LXX) | Letter to Marcellinus 21 · Athanasius of Alexandria | allusion, high confidence | uncertain, after 335 |
| Ps 138:1 (137:1 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.3 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Ps 138:1 (137:1 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.4 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Ps 138:1 (137:1 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.5 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Ps 138:1–8 (137:1-Ps LXX) | Psalm 137 · Apollinaris of Laodicea | quotation, high confidence | uncertain (fourth to sixth century) |
| Ps 138:1 (137:1 LXX) | On the Trinity 10.7 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 399–419 |
Psalms 138:2
I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ps 138:2 (137:2 Vulg.) | On the Holy Spirit 11 · Didymus the Blind | quotation, high confidence | Greek ca. 360-390; Latin 387-391 |
| Ps 138:2 (137:2 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.6 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Ps 138:2 (137:2 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.7 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Ps 138:2 (137:2 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.9 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Ps 138:2 (137:2 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.10 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Ps 138:2 (137:2 LXX) | Letter 106.81 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
Psalms 138:3
On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ps 138:3 (137:3 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.11 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Ps 138:3 (137:3 LXX) | On the Good of Marriage 2 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 401 |
| Ps 138:3 (137:3 LXX) | City of God 14.21 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
Psalms 138:4
All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ps 138:4 (137:4 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.12 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
Psalms 138:5
They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ps 138:5 (137:5 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.12 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Ps 138:5 (137:5 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.13 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
Psalms 138:6
Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ps 138:6 (137:6 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.12 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Ps 138:6 (137:6 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.14 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Ps 138:6 (137:6 Vulg.) | Sermon 21.2 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Ps 138:6 (137:6 Vulg.) | Sermon 115.2 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Ps 138:6 (137:6 Vulg.) | Sermon 279.6 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Ps 138:6 (137:6 Vulg.) | Sermon 351.1 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Ps 138:6 (137:6 Vulg.) | Poem 21, lines 458–490 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 393–431 |
| Ps 138:6 (137:6 Vulg.) | Letters 49.5 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Ps 138:6 (137:6 Vulg.) | Confessions 5.3 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 397–401 |
| Ps 138:6 (137:6 Vulg.) | Confessions 11.41 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 397–401 |
| Ps 138:6 (137:6 LXX) | On Holy Virginity 32 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 401 |
| Ps 138:6 (137:6 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Gospel of John 15.25 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 406–420 |
Psalms 138:7
If 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ps 138:7 (137:7 LXX) | On the Psalms, fragment 13 · Hippolytus of Rome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 200–235 |
| Ps 138:7 (137:7 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.15 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
Psalms 138:8
The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ps 138:8 (137:8 LXX) | Letter to Marcellinus 7 · Athanasius of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | uncertain, after 335 |
| Ps 138:8 (137:8 LXX) | Oration II Against the Arians 66 · Athanasius of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 339–346 |
| Ps 138:8 (137:8 Vulg.) | On the Trinity 12.12 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 356–360 |
| Ps 138:8 (137:8 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.15 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Ps 138:8 (137:8 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.16 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Ps 138:8 (137:8 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Psalms 137.17 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Ps 138:8 (137:8 LXX) | Apostolic Constitutions 8.7.8 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 380 |
| Ps 138:8 (137:8 LXX) | Exposition of Psalm 118 10.9.1 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Ps 138:8 (137:8 LXX) | Exposition of Psalm 118 10.9.2 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Ps 138:8 (137:8 Vulg.) | Letters 18.6 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Ps 138:8 (137:8 Vulg.) | Letters 19.4 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Ps 138:8 (137:8 LXX) | On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins 2.16 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 411–412 |
| Ps 138:8 (137:8 Vulg.) | Sermon 54 · Peter Chrysologus | quotation, high confidence | ca. 425-450 |