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Psalm 111-118
The Message
Psalm 111-118
The Message
111 1-10 Hallelujah!
I give thanks to God with everything I’ve got—
Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation.
God’s works are so great, worth
A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!
Splendor and beauty mark his craft;
His generosity never gives out.
His miracles are his memorial—
This God of Grace, this God of Love.
He gave food to those who fear him,
He remembered to keep his ancient promise.
He proved to his people that he could do what he said:
Hand them the nations on a platter—a gift!
He manufactures truth and justice;
All his products are guaranteed to last—
Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof.
All that he makes and does is honest and true:
He paid the ransom for his people,
He ordered his Covenant kept forever.
He’s so personal and holy, worthy of our respect.
The good life begins in the fear of God—
Do that and you’ll know the blessing of God.
His Hallelujah lasts forever!
112 1-10 Hallelujah!
Blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God,
Who cherish and relish his commandments,
Their children robust on the earth,
And the homes of the upright—how blessed!
Their houses brim with wealth
And a generosity that never runs dry.
Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people—
God’s grace and mercy and justice!
The good person is generous and lends lavishly;
No shuffling or stumbling around for this one,
But a sterling and solid and lasting reputation.
Unfazed by rumor and gossip,
Heart ready, trusting in God,
Spirit firm, unperturbed,
Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies,
They lavish gifts on the poor—
A generosity that goes on, and on, and on.
An honored life! A beautiful life!
Someone wicked takes one look and rages,
Blusters away but ends up speechless.
There’s nothing to the dreams of the wicked. Nothing.
113 1-3 Hallelujah!
You who serve God, praise God!
Just to speak his name is praise!
Just to remember God is a blessing—
now and tomorrow and always.
From east to west, from dawn to dusk,
keep lifting all your praises to God!
4-9 God is higher than anything and anyone,
outshining everything you can see in the skies.
Who can compare with God, our God,
so majestically enthroned,
Surveying his magnificent
heavens and earth?
He picks up the poor from out of the dirt,
rescues the forgotten who’ve been thrown out with the trash,
Seats them among the honored guests,
a place of honor among the brightest and best.
He gives childless couples a family,
gives them joy as the parents of children.
Hallelujah!
114 1-8 After Israel left Egypt,
the clan of Jacob left those barbarians behind;
Judah became holy land for him,
Israel the place of holy rule.
Sea took one look and ran the other way;
River Jordan turned around and ran off.
The mountains turned playful and skipped like rams,
the hills frolicked like spring lambs.
What’s wrong with you, Sea, that you ran away?
and you, River Jordan, that you turned and ran off?
And mountains, why did you skip like rams?
and you, hills, frolic like spring lambs?
Tremble, Earth! You’re in the Lord’s presence!
in the presence of Jacob’s God.
He turned the rock into a pool of cool water,
turned flint into fresh spring water.
115 1-2 Not for our sake, God, no, not for our sake,
but for your name’s sake, show your glory.
Do it on account of your merciful love,
do it on account of your faithful ways.
Do it so none of the nations can say,
“Where now, oh where is their God?”
3-8 Our God is in heaven
doing whatever he wants to do.
Their gods are metal and wood,
handmade in a basement shop:
Carved mouths that can’t talk,
painted eyes that can’t see,
Tin ears that can’t hear,
molded noses that can’t smell,
Hands that can’t grasp, feet that can’t walk or run,
throats that never utter a sound.
Those who make them have become just like them,
have become just like the gods they trust.
9-11 But you, Israel: put your trust in God!
—trust your Helper! trust your Ruler!
Clan of Aaron, trust in God!
—trust your Helper! trust your Ruler!
You who fear God, trust in God!
—trust your Helper! trust your Ruler!
12-16 O God, remember us and bless us,
bless the families of Israel and Aaron.
And let God bless all who fear God—
bless the small, bless the great.
Oh, let God enlarge your families—
giving growth to you, growth to your children.
May you be blessed by God,
by God, who made heaven and earth.
The heaven of heavens is for God,
but he put us in charge of the earth.
17-18 Dead people can’t praise God—
not a word to be heard from those buried in the ground.
But we bless God, oh yes—
we bless him now, we bless him always!
Hallelujah!
116 1-6 I love God because he listened to me,
listened as I begged for mercy.
He listened so intently
as I laid out my case before him.
Death stared me in the face,
hell was hard on my heels.
Up against it, I didn’t know which way to turn;
then I called out to God for help:
“Please, God!” I cried out.
“Save my life!”
God is gracious—it is he who makes things right,
our most compassionate God.
God takes the side of the helpless;
when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me.
7-8 I said to myself, “Relax and rest.
God has showered you with blessings.
Soul, you’ve been rescued from death;
Eye, you’ve been rescued from tears;
And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling.”
9-11 I’m striding in the presence of God,
alive in the land of the living!
I stayed faithful, though overwhelmed,
and despite a ton of bad luck,
Despite giving up on the human race,
saying, “They’re all liars and cheats.”
12-19 What can I give back to God
for the blessings he’s poured out on me?
I’ll lift high the cup of salvation—a toast to God!
I’ll pray in the name of God;
I’ll complete what I promised God I’d do,
and I’ll do it together with his people.
When they arrive at the gates of death,
God welcomes those who love him.
Oh, God, here I am, your servant,
your faithful servant: set me free for your service!
I’m ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice
and pray in the name of God.
I’ll complete what I promised God I’d do,
and I’ll do it in company with his people,
In the place of worship, in God’s house,
in Jerusalem, God’s city.
Hallelujah!
117 1-2 Praise God, everybody!
Applaud God, all people!
His love has taken over our lives;
God’s faithful ways are eternal.
Hallelujah!
118 1-4 Thank God because he’s good,
because his love never quits.
Tell the world, Israel,
“His love never quits.”
And you, clan of Aaron, tell the world,
“His love never quits.”
And you who fear God, join in,
“His love never quits.”
5-16 Pushed to the wall, I called to God;
from the wide open spaces, he answered.
God’s now at my side and I’m not afraid;
who would dare lay a hand on me?
God’s my strong champion;
I flick off my enemies like flies.
Far better to take refuge in God
than trust in people;
Far better to take refuge in God
than trust in celebrities.
Hemmed in by barbarians,
in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
Hemmed in and with no way out,
in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in;
in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt.
I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall,
when God grabbed and held me.
God’s my strength, he’s also my song,
and now he’s my salvation.
Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs
in the camp of the saved?
“The hand of God has turned the tide!
The hand of God is raised in victory!
The hand of God has turned the tide!”
17-20 I didn’t die. I lived!
And now I’m telling the world what God did.
God tested me, he pushed me hard,
but he didn’t hand me over to Death.
Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates!
I’ll walk right through and thank God!
This Temple Gate belongs to God,
so the victors can enter and praise.
21-25 Thank you for responding to me;
you’ve truly become my salvation!
The stone the masons discarded as flawed
is now the capstone!
This is God’s work.
We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
This is the very day God acted—
let’s celebrate and be festive!
Salvation now, God. Salvation now!
Oh yes, God—a free and full life!
26-29 Blessed are you who enter in God’s name—
from God’s house we bless you!
God is God,
he has bathed us in light.
Adorn the shrine with garlands,
hang colored banners above the altar!
You’re my God, and I thank you.
O my God, I lift high your praise.
Thank God—he’s so good.
His love never quits!
Psalm 111-118
New International Version
Psalm 111-118
New International Version
Psalm 111[a]
1 Praise the Lord.[b]
I will extol the Lord(A) with all my heart(B)
in the council(C) of the upright and in the assembly.(D)
2 Great are the works(E) of the Lord;
they are pondered by all(F) who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures(G) forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate.(H)
5 He provides food(I) for those who fear him;(J)
he remembers his covenant(K) forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,(L)
giving them the lands of other nations.(M)
7 The works of his hands(N) are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.(O)
8 They are established for ever(P) and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption(Q) for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome(R) is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord(S) is the beginning of wisdom;(T)
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.(U)
To him belongs eternal praise.(V)
Psalm 112[c]
2 Their children(AA) will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches(AB) are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures(AC) forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns(AD) for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.(AE)
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,(AF)
who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;(AG)
they will be remembered(AH) forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast,(AI) trusting in the Lord.(AJ)
8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;(AK)
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.(AL)
9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,(AM)
their righteousness endures(AN) forever;
their horn[e] will be lifted(AO) high in honor.
10 The wicked will see(AP) and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth(AQ) and waste away;(AR)
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.(AS)
Psalm 113
Praise the Lord, you his servants;(AU)
praise the name of the Lord.
2 Let the name of the Lord be praised,(AV)
both now and forevermore.(AW)
3 From the rising of the sun(AX) to the place where it sets,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
4 The Lord is exalted(AY) over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.(AZ)
5 Who is like the Lord our God,(BA)
the One who sits enthroned(BB) on high,(BC)
6 who stoops down to look(BD)
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor(BE) from the dust
and lifts the needy(BF) from the ash heap;
8 he seats them(BG) with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the childless(BH) woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the Lord.
Psalm 114
1 When Israel came out of Egypt,(BI)
Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
2 Judah(BJ) became God’s sanctuary,(BK)
Israel his dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled,(BL)
the Jordan turned back;(BM)
4 the mountains leaped(BN) like rams,
the hills like lambs.
5 Why was it, sea, that you fled?(BO)
Why, Jordan, did you turn back?
6 Why, mountains, did you leap like rams,
you hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, earth,(BP) at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turned the rock into a pool,
the hard rock into springs of water.(BQ)
Psalm 115(BR)
1 Not to us, Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,(BS)
because of your love and faithfulness.(BT)
2 Why do the nations say,
“Where is their God?”(BU)
3 Our God is in heaven;(BV)
he does whatever pleases him.(BW)
4 But their idols are silver and gold,(BX)
made by human hands.(BY)
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,(BZ)
eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.
9 All you Israelites, trust(CA) in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
10 House of Aaron,(CB) trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
11 You who fear him,(CC) trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
12 The Lord remembers(CD) us and will bless us:(CE)
He will bless his people Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear(CF) the Lord—
small and great alike.
14 May the Lord cause you to flourish,(CG)
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven(CH) and earth.
16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord,(CI)
but the earth he has given(CJ) to mankind.
17 It is not the dead(CK) who praise the Lord,
those who go down to the place of silence;
18 it is we who extol the Lord,(CL)
both now and forevermore.(CM)
Psalm 116
1 I love the Lord,(CO) for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry(CP) for mercy.(CQ)
2 Because he turned his ear(CR) to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death(CS) entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name(CT) of the Lord:
“Lord, save me!(CU)”
5 The Lord is gracious and righteous;(CV)
our God is full of compassion.(CW)
6 The Lord protects the unwary;
when I was brought low,(CX) he saved me.(CY)
8 For you, Lord, have delivered me(DB) from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
9 that I may walk before the Lord(DC)
in the land of the living.(DD)
10 I trusted(DE) in the Lord when I said,
“I am greatly afflicted”;(DF)
11 in my alarm I said,
“Everyone is a liar.”(DG)
12 What shall I return to the Lord
for all his goodness(DH) to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name(DI) of the Lord.
14 I will fulfill my vows(DJ) to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight(DK) of the Lord
is the death of his faithful servants.(DL)
16 Truly I am your servant, Lord;(DM)
I serve you just as my mother did;(DN)
you have freed me from my chains.(DO)
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering(DP) to you
and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will fulfill my vows(DQ) to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts(DR) of the house of the Lord—
in your midst, Jerusalem.(DS)
Praise the Lord.[h]
Psalm 117
1 Praise the Lord,(DT) all you nations;(DU)
extol him, all you peoples.
2 For great is his love(DV) toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord(DW) endures forever.
Praise the Lord.[i]
Psalm 118
2 Let Israel say:(EA)
“His love endures forever.”(EB)
3 Let the house of Aaron say:(EC)
“His love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord(ED) say:
“His love endures forever.”
5 When hard pressed,(EE) I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.(EF)
6 The Lord is with me;(EG) I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?(EH)
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.(EI)
I look in triumph on my enemies.(EJ)
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord(EK)
than to trust in humans.(EL)
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.(EM)
10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.(EN)
11 They surrounded me(EO) on every side,(EP)
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,(EQ)
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;(ER)
in the name of the Lord I cut them down.(ES)
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the Lord helped me.(ET)
14 The Lord is my strength(EU) and my defense[j];
he has become my salvation.(EV)
15 Shouts of joy(EW) and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand(EX) has done mighty things!(EY)
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die(EZ) but live,
and will proclaim(FA) what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened(FB) me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.(FC)
19 Open for me the gates(FD) of the righteous;
I will enter(FE) and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord(FF)
through which the righteous may enter.(FG)
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;(FH)
you have become my salvation.(FI)
22 The stone(FJ) the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;(FK)
23 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous(FL) in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.(FM)
25 Lord, save us!(FN)
Lord, grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes(FO) in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.[k](FP)
27 The Lord is God,(FQ)
and he has made his light shine(FR) on us.
With boughs in hand,(FS) join in the festal procession
up[l] to the horns of the altar.(FT)
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Footnotes
- Psalm 111:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the lines of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Psalm 111:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah
- Psalm 112:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the lines of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Psalm 112:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah
- Psalm 112:9 Horn here symbolizes dignity.
- Psalm 113:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 9
- Psalm 115:18 Hebrew Hallelu Yah
- Psalm 116:19 Hebrew Hallelu Yah
- Psalm 117:2 Hebrew Hallelu Yah
- Psalm 118:14 Or song
- Psalm 118:26 The Hebrew is plural.
- Psalm 118:27 Or Bind the festal sacrifice with ropes / and take it
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.