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Psalm 118

Give thanks to the Eternal because He is always good.
    He never ceases to be loving and kind.

Let the people of Israel proclaim:
    “He never ceases to be loving and kind.”
Let the priests of Aaron’s line proclaim:
    “He never ceases to be loving and kind.”
Let the people who fear the Eternal proclaim:
    “He never ceases to be loving and kind.”

When trouble surrounded me, I cried out to the Eternal;
    He answered me and brought me to a wide, open space.
The Eternal is with me,
    so I will not be afraid of anything.
    If God is on my side, how can anyone hurt me?
The Eternal is on my side, a champion for my cause;
    so when I look at those who hate me, victory will be in sight.
It is better to put your faith in the Eternal for your security
    than to trust in people.
It is better to put your faith in Him for your security
    than to trust in princes.

10 All these nations surround me, squeezing me from all sides;
    with the name of the Eternal, I will destroy them.
11 They rose up against me, squeezed me from all sides, yes, from all sides;
    with the name of the Eternal, I will destroy them.
12 They surrounded me like a swarm of bees;
    they were destroyed quickly and thoroughly—
Flaring up like a pile of thorns—
    with the name of the Eternal, I will destroy them.
13 I was pushed back, attacked so that I was about to fall,
    but the Eternal was there to help me keep my balance.
14 He is my strength, and He is the reason I sing;
    He has been there to save me in every situation.

15 In the tents of the righteous soldiers of God,
    there are shouts of joy and victory. They sing:
    “The right hand of the Eternal has shown His power.
16 The mighty arm of the Eternal is raised in victory;
    the right hand of His has shown His power.”
17 I will not die. I will live.
    I will live to tell about all the Eternal has done.
18 The Eternal has taught me many lessons;
    He has been strict and severe,
    but even in His discipline, He has not allowed me to die.

Early Christians found in the words of this psalm a wonderful way of describing the significance of Jesus. He was the rejected stone whom God made the cornerstone of a brand-new temple (verses 22–24).

19 Open wide to me the gates of justice
    so that I may walk through them
    and offer praise and worship to the Eternal.

20 This is the gate of the Eternal;
    the righteous children of God will go through it.

21 I will praise You because You answered me when I was in trouble.
    You have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the very stone that holds together the entire foundation.
23 This is the work of the Eternal,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes.[a]
24 This is the day the Eternal God has made;
    let us celebrate and be happy today.
25 O Eternal One, save us, we beg You.
    O Eternal One, we beg You, bring us success!

26 He who comes in the name of the Eternal will be blessed;[b]
    we have blessed You from the house of the Eternal.
27 The Eternal is the True God;
    He shines His light on us.
Let the feast begin.
    Bring the sacrifice, and tie it to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I give You thanks;
    You are my God, and I praise You.
29 Give thanks to our Eternal Lord; He is always good.
    He never ceases to be loving and kind.

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 118

Give thanks to Yahweh because he is good,
    because his mercy endures forever.
        Israel should say,
            “His mercy endures forever.”
        The descendants of Aaron should say,
            “His mercy endures forever.”
        Those who fear Yahweh should say,
            “His mercy endures forever.”

During times of trouble I called on Yah.
    Yah answered me and set me free from all of them.
Yahweh is on my side.
    I am not afraid.
        What can mortals do to me?
Yahweh is on my side as my helper.
    I will see the defeat of those who hate me.
It is better to depend on Yahweh
    than to trust mortals.
It is better to depend on Yahweh
    than to trust influential people.

10 All the nations surrounded me,
    but armed with the name of Yahweh, I defeated them.
11 They surrounded me. Yes, they surrounded me,
    but armed with the name of Yahweh, I defeated them.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
    but they were extinguished like burning thornbushes.
        So armed with the name of Yahweh, I defeated them.
13 They pushed hard to make me fall,
    but Yahweh helped me.
14 Yah is my strength and my song.
    He is my savior.

15 The sound of joyful singing and victory is heard
    in the tents of righteous people.
        The right hand of Yahweh displays strength.
16 The right hand of Yahweh is held high.
    The right hand of Yahweh displays strength.
17 I will not die,
    but I will live and tell what Yah has done.
18 Yah disciplined me severely,
    but he did not allow me to be killed.

19 Open the gates of righteousness for me.
    I will go through them and give thanks to Yah.
20 This is the gate of Yahweh
    through which righteous people will enter.

21 I give thanks to you,
    because you have answered me.
        You are my savior.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.
23 Yahweh is responsible for this,
    and it is amazing for us to see.
24 This is the day Yahweh has made.
    Let’s rejoice and be glad today!
25 We beg you, O Yahweh, save us!
    We beg you, O Yahweh, give us success!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of Yahweh.
    We bless you from Yahweh’s house.
27 Yahweh is El, and he has given us light.
    March in a festival procession
        with branches to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my El, and I give thanks to you.
    My Elohim, I honor you highly.

29 Give thanks to Yahweh because he is good,
    because his mercy endures forever.

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

118 (A)Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!

(B)Let Israel say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”
(C)Let the house of Aaron say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”
(D)Let those who fear the Lord say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”

(E)Out of my distress I (F)called on the Lord;
    the Lord answered me and set me (G)free.
(H)The Lord is on my side; (I)I will not fear.
    What can man do to me?
(J)The Lord is on my side as my helper;
    I shall (K)look in triumph on those who hate me.

(L)It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    (M)than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    (N)than to trust in princes.

10 (O)All nations surrounded me;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
12 (P)They surrounded me like bees;
    they went out like (Q)a fire among thorns;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
13 I was (R)pushed hard,[a] so that I was falling,
    but the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
    (S)he has become my salvation.
15 Glad songs of salvation
    are in the tents of the righteous:
(T)“The right hand of the Lord (U)does valiantly,
16     the right hand of the Lord exalts,
    the right hand of the Lord (V)does valiantly!”

17 (W)I shall not die, but I shall live,
    and (X)recount the deeds of the Lord.
18 The Lord has (Y)disciplined me severely,
    but he has not given me over to death.

19 (Z)Open to me the gates of righteousness,
    that I may enter through them
    and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
    (AA)the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that (AB)you have answered me
    (AC)and have become my salvation.
22 (AD)The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.[b]
23 This is the Lord's doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save us, we pray, O Lord!
    O Lord, we pray, give us success!

26 (AE)Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
    We (AF)bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God,
    and he has made (AG)his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
    up to (AH)the horns of the altar!

28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
    you are my God; I will (AI)extol you.
29 (AJ)Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 118:13 Hebrew You (that is, the enemy) pushed me hard
  2. Psalm 118:22 Hebrew the head of the corner