Psalm 118

Thanksgiving for Victory

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.(A)
Let Israel say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”(B)
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”(C)
Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”(D)

I called to the Lord in distress;(E)
the Lord answered me
and put me in a spacious place.[a](F)
The Lord is for me; I will not be afraid.
What can a mere mortal do to me?(G)
The Lord is my helper;
therefore, I will look in triumph on those who hate me.(H)

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humanity.(I)
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in nobles.(J)

10 All the nations surrounded me;
in the name of the Lord I destroyed them.(K)
11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me;
in the name of the Lord I destroyed them.(L)
12 They surrounded me like bees;(M)
they were extinguished like a fire among thorns;
in the name of the Lord I destroyed them.(N)
13 They[b] pushed me hard to make me fall,
but the Lord helped me.(O)
14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.(P)

15 There are shouts of joy and victory
in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!(Q)
16 The Lord’s right hand is raised.
The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!” (R)
17 I will not die, but I will live
and proclaim what the Lord has done.(S)
18 The Lord disciplined me severely
but did not give me over to death.(T)

19 Open the gates of righteousness for me;
I will enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.(U)
20 This is the Lord’s gate;
the righteous will enter through it.(V)
21 I will give thanks to you
because you have answered me
and have become my salvation.(W)
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.(X)
23 This came from the Lord;
it is wondrous in our sight.(Y)
24 This is the day the Lord has made;
let’s rejoice and be glad in it.(Z)

25 Lord, save us!
Lord, please grant us success!(AA)
26 He who comes in the name
of the Lord is blessed.(AB)
From the house of the Lord we bless you.(AC)
27 The Lord is God and has given us light.
Bind the festival sacrifice with cords
to the horns of the altar.(AD)
28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks.
You are my God; I will exalt you.(AE)
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.(AF)

Footnotes

  1. 118:5 Or answered me with freedom
  2. 118:13 Lit You

Psalm 118

118 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
    because his faithful love lasts forever.
Let Israel say it:
    “God’s faithful love lasts forever!”
Let the house of Aaron say it:
    “God’s faithful love lasts forever!”
Let those who honor the Lord say it:
    “God’s faithful love lasts forever!”

In tight circumstances, I cried out to the Lord.
    The Lord answered me with wide-open spaces.
The Lord is for me[a]—I won’t be afraid.
    What can anyone do to me?
The Lord is for me—as my helper.
    I look in victory on those who hate me.
It’s far better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust any human.
It’s far better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust any human leader.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
    but I cut them down[b] in the Lord’s name.
11 Yes, they surrounded me on every single side,
    but I cut them down in the Lord’s name.
12 They surrounded me like bees,
    but they were extinguished like burning thorns.
    I cut them down in the Lord’s name!
13 I was pushed so hard[c] I nearly died,
    but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord was my strength and protection;
    he was my saving help!
15 The sounds of joyful songs and deliverance
    are heard in the tents of the righteous:
    “The Lord’s strong hand is victorious!
16     The Lord’s strong hand is ready to strike!
        The Lord’s strong hand is victorious!”

17 I won’t die—no, I will live
    and declare what the Lord has done.
18 Yes, the Lord definitely disciplined me,
    but he didn’t hand me over to death.

19 Open the gates of righteousness for me
    so I can come in and give thanks to the Lord!
20 This is the Lord’s gate;
    those who are righteous enter through it.

21 I thank you because you answered me,
    because you were my saving help.
22 The stone rejected by the builders
    is now the main foundation stone!
23 This has happened because of the Lord;
    it is astounding in our sight!
24 This is the day the Lord acted;
    we will rejoice and celebrate in it!

25 Lord, please save us!
    Lord, please let us succeed!

26 The one who enters in the Lord’s name is blessed;
    we bless all of you from the Lord’s house.
27 The Lord is God!
    He has shined a light on us!
So lead the festival offering with ropes
    all the way to the horns of the altar.[d]
28 You are my God—I will give thanks to you!
    You are my God—I will lift you up high!
29 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
    because his faithful love lasts forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 118:6 LXX with me or mine; also in 118:7
  2. Psalm 118:10 Heb uncertain; LXX, Vulg drove or warded off; also in 118:11-12
  3. Psalm 118:13 LXX, Vulg, Syr; MT you pushed me
  4. Psalm 118:27 Heb uncertain