Psalm 138:2

From Bob MacDonald:

When I first attempted to translate this verse, I wondered what the
last line meant.

I will bow down to your holy temple
and I thank your name
by your mercy and by your truth
for you magnify by your full name your word

continued...

more here and here

Heb
אשתחוה אל־היכל
קדשך ואודה את־שמך
על־חסדך ועל־אמתך
כי־הגדלת על־
כל־שמך אמרתך׃

Heb (xlit)
sh·t·ch·vh l-h·y·chl k·d·shch v·v·dh t-sh·mch l-ch·s·dch v·'l-m·tch chy-h·g·d·lt l- chl-sh·mch m·r·tch

LXX
προσκυνησω προς ναον αγιον σου και εξομολογησομαι τω ονοματι σου
επι τω ελεει σου και τη αληθεια σου οτι εμεγαλυνας
επι παν ονομα το λογιον σου

Vulg
adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum,
et confitebor nomini tuo :
super misericordia tua et veritate tua ;
quoniam magnificasti super omne, nomen sanctum tuum.

Wycliffe
Y schal worschipe to thin hooli temple, and Y schal knouleche to thi name. On thi merci and thi treuthe; for thou hast magnefied thin hooli name aboue al thing.

Luther
Ich will anbeten vor deinem heiligen Tempel und deinen Namen preisen für deine Güte und Treue; denn du hast deinen Namen und dein Wort herrlich gemacht über alles.

Coverdale
I wil worshippe towarde thy holy teple, and prayse thy name because of thy louynge kyndnesse and treuth, for thou hast magnified thy worde, acordynge vnto thy greate name.

Geneva
I will worship toward thine holy Temple and praise thy Name, because of thy louing kindenesse and for thy trueth: for thou hast magnified thy Name aboue all things by thy word.

KJV
I will worship toward thy holy temple,
and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth:
for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

YLT
I bow myself toward Thy holy temple, And I confess Thy name, For Thy kindness, and for Thy truth, For Thou hast made great Thy saying above all Thy name.

ASV
I will worship toward thy holy temple, And give thanks unto thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

JPS
I will bow down toward Thy holy temple, and give thanks unto Thy name
for Thy mercy and for Thy truth;
for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name.

RSV
I bow down toward thy holy temple
and give thanks to thy name for thy steadfast love and thy
faithfulness;
for thou hast exalted above everything
thy name and thy word.

GNT
I face your holy Temple,

bow down, and praise your name

because of your constant love and faithfulness,

because you have shown that your name and your commands are supreme.

NIV
I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.

NRSV
I bow down towards your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness;
for you have exalted your name and your word
above everything.*

* Heb: you have exalted your word above all your name

ESV
I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.*

* Or: you have exalted your word above all your name

TNIV
I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
that it surpasses your fame.

WEB
I will bow down toward your holy temple,
and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth;
for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all.

NET
I will bow down toward your holy temple,

and give thanks to your name,

because of your loyal love and faithfulness,

for you have exalted your promise above the entire sky.*

* The MT reads, “for you have made great over all your name your word.” If retained, this must mean that God's mighty intervention, in fulfillment of his word of promise, surpassed anything he had done prior to this. However, the statement is odd and several emendations have been proposed. Some read, “for you have exalted over everything your name and your word,” while others suggest, “for you have exalted over all the heavens your name and your word.” The translation assumes an emendation of “your name” to “your heavens” (a construction that appears in Pss 8:3 and 144:5). The point is that God has been faithful to his promise and the reliability of that promise is apparent to all. For a fuller discussion of these options, see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 244.

CEV
I worship at your holy temple

and praise you for your love

and your faithfulness.

You were true to your word

and made yourself more famous

than ever before.*

* One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

Msg
I kneel in worship facing your holy temple
and say it again: "Thank you!"
Thank you for your love,
thank you for your faithfulness;
Most holy is your name,
most holy is your Word.