Psalms in Worship—Psalm 138 A Litany of Thanksgiving for Three Readers

Published June 22, 2026

Updated June 22, 2026

trees by streams of water
By Joyce Borger

Psalm 138 is a psalm of thanksgiving for a God who, though he is above all Gods and is worshiped by even the greatest of kings, still cares about each and every one of us. Even when we walk in the midst of trouble—whether those troubles are small or death itself—we can be assured of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. That assurance is all we need for thanksgiving to well up from the depths of our hearts. Still we pray, “do not forget us, O Lord.” 

This psalm is divided between three voices. You can choose to have the portions marked as “all” be read by all three voices or by the congregation. 

A Litany of Thanksgiving  

Reader 1:

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
    before the gods I sing your praise;
 

Reader 2: 

I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name 
 

All: 

for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
 

Reader 1: 

for you have exalted your name 
 

Reader 2: 

and your word
    above everything.
 

Reader 3:

On the day I called, you answered me;
    you increased my strength of soul.

 

Reader 2:

All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,
    for they have heard the words of your mouth.
 

Reader 1: 

They shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
    for great is the glory of the Lord.
 

Reader 3:

For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,
    but the haughty he perceives from far away.
 

All: 

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
 

Reader 1:

you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
 

Reader 2: 

you stretch out your hand,
  and your right hand delivers me.
 

Reader 1: 

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
 

All: 

  your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
 

Reader 3:

    Do not forsake the work of your hands.
—Psalm 138 NRSVUE
Revised Common Lectionary

Year A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 16 (21)
Year B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 5 (10)
Year C: Epiphany—Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Year C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 12 (17)