Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses the LORD, having just affirmed that God attends to the lowly while knowing the proud from afar (v.6). This is a declaration of trust made in the midst of present trouble, not a retrospective thanksgiving.
The words — צָרָה (tza.Rah) is a tight, suffocating distress rather than mere difficulty; and תְּחַיֶּנִי (te.Chai.Ye.ni) is a causative "you will keep me alive," implying the trouble is life-threatening and the preservation is an act of sustaining life.
The thread — The same pattern of divine preservation through present affliction appears in Isaiah 41:10 ("I will surely help you") and Psalm 71:20 ("You will revive me once again").
Why it lands — The verse asks the reader to locate God's saving hand not after the trouble ends but inside it, in the midst (בְּקֶרֶב), while the anger of foes is still present.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
- Psalms 23:3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.
- Psalms 71:20 Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes, You will revive me once again. Even from the depths of the earth You will bring me back up.
- Psalms 85:6 Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?
- Isaiah 5:25 Therefore the anger of the LORD burns against His people; His hand is raised against them to strike them down. The mountains quake, and the corpses lie like refuse in the streets. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.
- Acts 2:33 Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
- Micah 7:8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
- Psalms 144:1 Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
- Job 13:15 Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.
- Job 19:25 But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth.