서론
Psalm 138 Introduction
英文原文
This is the first of a series of eight psalms Ps. 138-145, placed together in this part of the book, and ascribed to David. They appear to be of the nature of a supplement to the Book of Psalms, composed of psalms unknown to the original collector and arranger of the book, and subsequently discovered and ascertained to be the works of David. It is not to be regarded as strange that there should be psalms of this nature David at different periods which might have been preserved in different branches of his family, and which might not have been generally known to exist. It is rare that the works of an author, especially a poet, are collected and published, and that things of this kind - fugitive and occasional pieces - are not subsequently found; nor is it very unusual that such pieces may, after all, be among the most tender, touching, and beautiful of his compositions. Burns' Highland Mary," so much admired, and his "When wild War's deadly blast was blown," a poem which no one can read without tears - with not a few others of his, are of this description. They are said, in his Biography, to have been "extracted from the correspondence of Burns." (Works of Robert Burns, Philad., 1834, pp. 76, 85, 89.)
The occasion on which this psalm was composed cannot now be determined. It was evidently written in view of trouble Psalm 138:3, Psalm 138:7, and it expresses confidence that God would interpose in the future in behalf of the author, as he had done in the past; and it is, therefore, adapted to inspire confidence and hope in all who are called to pass through scenes of trial. The psalm does not admit of any particular analysis.
1
Psalm 138:1
我要一心称谢你——不在心中留下什么归给偶像或别神。凡构成对神之为神的赞美的一切，他都愿单单献于祂。他不使用任何暗示相信另有别神的言语，也不怀存任何这样的意念；他不沉溺于任何与对神至高的爱慕不一致、或会引他的情感偏离祂的恋慕。参见 Psalm 9:1 的注释。
在诸神面前歌颂你——即众偶像；一切偶像；且胜过这一切。这不是说他要在别神面前这样做；而是说雅威 Yahweh 当被承认为神，超越他们当中的任何一个或全部。
英文原文
I will praise thee with my whole heart - Reserving nothing m my heart to give to idols or to other gods. All that constitutes praise to God as God, he would address to him alone. He would use no language, and cherish no feeling, which implied a belief that there was any other God; he would indulge in no attachment which would be inconsistent with supreme attachment to God, or which would tend to draw away his affections from him. See the notes at Psalm 9:1.
Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee - The idols; all idols; in preference to them all. This does not mean that he would do this in the presence of other gods; but that Yahweh should be acknowledged to be God in preference to any or all of them.
2
Psalm 138:2
我要下拜——我要俯伏敬拜。
向你的圣殿——参见 Psalm 5:7 的注释。此处的“殿”无疑是指会幕。
为你的慈爱称赞你的名——为你的恩慈；你的怜悯；你的仁爱而赞美你。
和诚实——即你的真实；你对诸应许的信实。
因你使你的话显为大——你使它尊大。试参 Isaiah 42:21。这里所指的是神的诸般应许，尤其是神对大卫所发的、弥赛亚将出于他的后裔的应许。试参 2 Samuel 7。
超乎你一切的名——即超乎你所作的一切；超乎你向我或向世界显明自己的其他一切方式。这里的“名”一词，恰当地说，当指神为显明自己所行的一切——因为我们正是借名字来指称或识别一个人；这样理解，其意思就是：神的话——即祂对自己以及祂对人类恩慈旨意的启示——在清晰与重要上，胜过祂对自己其他一切的显明，胜过在祂的作为中所能认识祂的一切。毫无疑问，在启示的篇章中，神对自己的存在、自己的完全、自己的旨意，有比祂的作为所曾显明或所能显明的更高、更清楚的彰显。试参 Psalm 19:1-14。关于神，有许多与人类利益攸关至大的事，科学的揭示在其中不投一线之光；有许多人渴望知道的事，在哲学的学堂里无法学得；有安慰，是人在愁苦世界中所需要的，在自然界中找不到；尤其是那关于罪如何得赦免、灵魂如何得救的知识，是吹管、望远镜或显微镜所永远不能揭示的。这些事若要学得，就必须从启示学得；而对于一个奔走通往另一世界之路途的人，这些比在哲学学堂里所能获得的一切学问——尽管那学问自有其价值——都更重要。
英文原文
I will worship - I will bow down and adore.
Toward thy holy temple - See the notes at Psalm 5:7. The word temple here undoubtedly refers to the tabernacle.
And praise thy name for thy loving-kindness - Praise thee for thy benignity; thy mercy; thy benevolence.
And for thy truth - Thy truthfulness; thy faithfulness to thy promises.
For thou hast magnified thy word - Thou hast made it great. Compare Isaiah 42:21. The reference here is to the promises of God, and especially to the promise which God had made to David that the Messiah would descend from him. Compare 2 Samuel 7.
Above all thy name - Above all else that thou hast done; above all the other manifestations of thyself to me or to the world. The word name here would refer properly to all that God had done to make himself known - since it is by the name that we designate or distinguish anyone; and, thus understood, the meaning would be, that the word of God - the revelation which he has made of himself and of his gracious purposes to mankind - is superior in clearness, and in importance, to all the other manifestations which he has made of himself; all that can be known of him in his works. Beyond all question there are higher and clearer manifestations of himself, of his being, of his perfection, of his purposes, in the volume of revelation, than any which his works have disclosed or can disclose. Compare Psalm 19:1-14. There are very many points in relation to God, of the highest interest to mankind, on which the disclosures of science shed no light; there are many things which it is desirable for man to know, which calmer be learned in the schools of philosophy; there are consolations which man needs in a world of trouble which cannot be found in nature; there is especially a knowledge of the method by which sin may be pardoned, and the soul saved, which can never be disclosed by the blow-pipe, the telescope, or the microscope. These things, if learned at all must be learned from revelation, and these are of more importance to man as a traveler to another world than all the learning which can be acquired in the schools of philosophy - valuable as that learning is.
3
Psalm 138:3
“我呼求的日子”——指他生平某个遭遇患难的从前时期。
“你就应允我”——就在我呼求的那一天，你就给了我回答：也就是说，是即刻的应允。
“鼓励我，使我心里有能力”——直译是“你以力量使我勇敢”或“你使我刚强壮胆”。你使我能面对危险，并胜过恐惧。看来这大概是在某个他遭遇仇敌危险的场合。
英文原文
In the day when I cried - Referring to some former period of his life when he was in trouble.
Thou answeredst me - In the very day when I called, thou gavest me the answer: that is, immediately.
And strengthenedst me with strength in my soul - literally, "Thou didst embolden - or, didst make me courageous with strength." Thou didst enable me to meet danger, and to overcome fear. It would seem probable that this was on some occasion when he was in danger from his enemies.
4
Psalm 138:4
地上的君王都要称谢你……——就是说，君王、首领和掌权者将认识这些应许的话语；将得以知晓你恩慈所说的话及其应验，并将被引导来称谢你。这是指圣经中先知屡屡提及的一个时代：那时，君王和掌权者将归信真宗教，并将以他们的榜样与影响力，在维护和传扬真宗教的事上扮演重要的角色。参 Psalm 68:31-32；Isaiah 49:23。
英文原文
All the kings of the earth shall praise thee ... - That is, kings, princes, and rulers shall learn the words of promise; shall be made acquainted with the words which thou hast graciously spoken, and with their fulfillment, and shall be led to praise thee. This refers to a time, of which frequent prophetic mention is made in the Scriptures, when kings and rulers shall be converted to the true religion, and when they shall act an important part, by their example and influence, in maintaining and diffusing it. Compare Psalm 68:31-32; Isaiah 49:23.
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Psalm 138:5
他们要歌颂耶和华的作为——即在神所定规的道路中。他们要与一切爱他的人——与百姓中最卑微的人——一同承认神。君王与百姓将要在共同的赞美行动中如此向神俯伏，并在他面前处于同等的地位。作为人、作为罪人、作为蒙救赎者、作为向坟墓行进的旅人，他们在神面前都是一样的。
因耶和华大有荣耀——他的品格何等伟大；他的尊严何等大；他的尊荣何等大；当地位最崇高者也这样敬拜他、颂赞他时，这一切都必显为如此。地上最高位的人也将承认有一位比他们更高的，他们自己的尊严与荣华便这样加深了神之尊荣与荣耀的印象。
英文原文
Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord - In the ways which God has appointed. They shall join with all that love him - with the humblest of the people - in acknowledging God. Kings and people shall thus bow before God in common acts of praise, and as being on the same level before him. As people, as sinners, as redeemed, as traveling to the grave, they are all alike before God.
For great is the glory of the Lord - Great is his character; great his dignity; great his honor; and all this will be seen to be so when those of most exalted rank thus worship and adore him. The most lofty on earth shall acknowledge that there is one who is more exalted than they are, and their own dignity and splendor shall thus contribute to deepen the impression of the honor and glory of God.
6
Psalm 138:6
耶和华虽高——这话或可译作“因为耶和华至高——谦卑人他看顾——骄傲人他从远处认出”。其意是：神——如此崇高尊贵——鉴察并认识人中间各阶层的一切人。诗篇作者的心深受神伟大与威严之感，但（仿佛有人会说，如此伟大者必不顾念如此卑微无足轻重的人）他补充说：神的高举并不妨碍他注意人的事：今生卑微的人不必怕被忽略；骄傲的人也别指望逃脱他眼目的鉴察。
仍看顾低微的人——指今生卑微的人；无名的；不为人知的。这里不是说他对他们有特殊的恩宠，只是说他看见他们。他们低微无闻的境况不能拦阻他注视他们；他们不必怕被他忽略、被他遗忘。参较 James 4:6 的注释；1 Peter 5:5 的注释。
骄傲的人——地位崇高、心气高傲的人；狂傲的人。
从远处看出——即从远处。他虽崇高——虽在天上——却并非遥远得看不见他们、不透知他们。与他相隔的距离不能保护他们；恶人也不能因神统管遥远诸世界而指望逃脱他的注意。
英文原文
Though the Lord be high - This might be rendered "For lofty is Yahweh - and the humble he sees - and the proud he knows from afar." The idea is, that God - so high and exalted - sees and knows all of every rank among people. The mind of the psalmist had been impressed with a sense of the greatness and majesty of God, but (as if it might be said that one so great could not regard man, so humble and insignificant) he adds, that the fact of God's exaltation does not prevent his noticing the affairs of people: that the lowly in life need not fear lest they should be overlooked; the proud need not hope that they will escape the notice of his eye.
Yet hath he respect unto the lowly - Those in humble life; the obscure; the unknown. It does not mean here that he has any special favor toward them, but merely that he sees them. Their low and obscure condition does not prevent his observing them, and they need have no fear that he will overlook them, or that they will be forgotten. Compare the notes at James 4:6; notes at 1 Peter 5:5.
But the proud - Those of lofty rank, and of lofty feelings; the haughty.
He knoweth afar off - From afar. Though he is exalted - though he is in heaven - yet he is not so far removed but that he sees them, and knows them altogether. Distance from him is no protection for them; nor can the wicked hope to escape notice from the fact that God reigns over distant worlds.
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Psalm 138:7
我虽行在患难中——意即：尽管我处于忧伤的低谷，也不会被忽视或遗忘。这暗示作者当时正处于患难之中，并表达了这样的确信：无论何时他陷入患难，神都必记念他，赐他生命与力量。
你必使我存活——你必使我活着；你必赐我生命。见 Psalm 30:3。参 Psalm 71:20 的注释。其意是：你必赐我生命——活力——力量——使我能够承受患难。
你必伸手——如同人将要出手击打时那样伸出手来。
攻击我仇敌的怒气……——即针对他们灭我的一切图谋而发。你必以你的能力对付他们的怒气，而我必安然无恙。
英文原文
Though I walk in the midst of trouble - Though I am in the low vale of sorrow, I shall not be overlooked or forgotten. This implies that the writer was then in trouble, and it expresses the conviction that whenever he should be in trouble God would remember him, and give him life and strength.
Thou wilt revive me - Thou wilt cause me to live; thou wilt give me life. Psalm 30:3. Compare the notes at Psalm 71:20. The meaning is, Thou wilt give me life - vigor - strength - to bear the trouble.
Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand - As one does when he is about to inflict a blow.
Against the wrath of mine enemies ... - In reference to all their attempts to destroy me. Thou wilt meet their wrath by thy power, and I shall be safe.
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Psalm 138:8
耶和华必成全关乎我的事——他必完成他所开始的工作。他不会开始为我介入，随后又丢弃我。他不会应许拯救我，随后又不能履行他的应许。他不会鼓励我，随后又弃绝我。对于我们也是如此。他必完成他所开始的工作。他不会使一个灵魂归正，随后又任凭其灭亡。“恩典必成全恩典所开始的工作。”参 Philippians 1:6 的注释。
耶和华啊，你的慈爱永远长存——参 Psalm 136:1 的注释。
求你不要离弃你手所造的——即你所造的；你所开始做的。不要任凭我灭亡。祷告是圣徒蒙保守直到救恩的手段之一——而且是必不可少的手段。“圣徒的坚忍”这一教义与祷告并不冲突，反而促使人祷告；人若自称倚靠这教义，却自觉安全到一个地步，认为不需要祷告，也确实不祷告，这就确切地证明他从未归正，也没有真实的信仰。
英文原文
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me - He will complete what he has begun. He will not begin to interpose in my behalf, and then abandon me. He will not promise to save me, and then fail to fulfill his promise. He will not encourage me, and then cast me off. So of us. He will complete what he begins. He will not convert a soul, and then leave it to perish. "Grace will complete what grace begins." See the notes at Philippians 1:6.
Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever - See the notes at Psalm 136:1.
Forsake not the works of thine own hands - What thou hast made; what thou hast begun to do. Do not leave me to perish. Prayer is one of the means - and an essential means - by which the saints are to be kept unto salvation. The doctrine of the "perseverance of the saints." is not inconsistent with prayer, but rather prompts to it; and he who professes to rely on that doctrine, and feels so safe that he does not need to pray, and does not pray, gives certain evidence that he has never been converted, and has no true religion.
这是连续排列在本书这一部分的八篇诗（Ps. 138-145）中的第一篇，都归于大卫名下。它们看来具有诗篇补编的性质，由原初收集并编排本书之人所不知道的诗篇组成，其后被发现并确定为大卫的作品。大卫在不同时期写有这一性质的诗篇，可能保存在他家族的不同支系中，其存在可能不为世人普遍知晓——这不应视为奇事。一位作者尤其是一位诗人的作品经收集出版之后，竟然不再发现这类东西——零散的应景之作——那倒是罕见的事；而且这类作品最终竟可能列于他最温柔、最动人、最优美的作品之中，也不算很不寻常。彭斯的"Highland Mary"——备受赞赏——以及他的《当狂野之战的致命疾风刮起时》——一首无人能不流泪诵读的诗——连同他不少别的作品，都属于这一类。据他的传记所说，这些作品是"从彭斯的信函中摘录的"（《罗伯特·彭斯著作集》，费城，1834年，第76、85、89页）。
本诗写作的场合，如今已无法确定。它显然是鉴于患难而写的（Psalm 138:3, Psalm 138:7），并表达了对神的信靠，信祂将来必像过去一样为作者介入；因此，它适合在一切蒙召经历试炼场景的人心中，激发信靠与盼望。本诗不容作特别的分析。