Psalm 118
GOD’S WORD Translation
118 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
because his mercy endures forever.
2 Israel should say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
3 The descendants of Aaron should say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
4 Those who fear the Lord should say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
5 During times of trouble I called on the Lord.
The Lord answered me ⌞and⌟ set me free ⌞from all of them⌟.
6 The Lord is on my side.
I am not afraid.
What can mortals do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper.
I will see ⌞the defeat of⌟ those who hate me.
8 It is better to depend on the Lord
than to trust mortals.
9 It is better to depend on the Lord
than to trust influential people.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
⌞but armed⌟ with the name of the Lord, I defeated them.
11 They surrounded me. Yes, they surrounded me,
⌞but armed⌟ with the name of the Lord, I defeated them.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were extinguished like burning thornbushes.
⌞So armed⌟ with the name of the Lord, I defeated them.
13 They pushed hard to make me fall,
but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord 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 the Lord displays strength.
16 The right hand of the Lord is held high.
The right hand of the Lord displays strength.
17 I will not die,
but I will live and tell what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord 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 the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord
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 The Lord is responsible for this,
and it is amazing for us to see.
24 This is the day the Lord has made.
Let’s rejoice and be glad today!
25 We beg you, O Lord, save us!
We beg you, O Lord, give us success!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the Lord’s house.
27 The Lord is God, and he has given us light.
March in a festival procession
with branches to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I give thanks to you.
My God, I honor you highly.
29 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
because his mercy endures forever.
Psalm 118
English Standard Version
His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
118 (A)Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 (B)Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
3 (C)Let the house of Aaron say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
4 (D)Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
5 (E)Out of my distress I (F)called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me (G)free.
6 (H)The Lord is on my side; (I)I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 (J)The Lord is on my side as my helper;
I shall (K)look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 (L)It is better to take refuge in the Lord
(M)than to trust in man.
9 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
- Psalm 118:13 Hebrew You (that is, the enemy) pushed me hard
- Psalm 118:22 Hebrew the head of the corner
Psalm 118
Common English Bible
Psalm 118
118 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
because his faithful love lasts forever.
2 Let Israel say it:
“God’s faithful love lasts forever!”
3 Let the house of Aaron say it:
“God’s faithful love lasts forever!”
4 Let those who honor the Lord say it:
“God’s faithful love lasts forever!”
5 In tight circumstances, I cried out to the Lord.
The Lord answered me with wide-open spaces.
6 The Lord is for me[a]—I won’t be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?
7 The Lord is for me—as my helper.
I look in victory on those who hate me.
8 It’s far better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust any human.
9 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
- Psalm 118:6 LXX with me or mine; also in 118:7
- Psalm 118:10 Heb uncertain; LXX, Vulg drove or warded off; also in 118:11-12
- Psalm 118:13 LXX, Vulg, Syr; MT you pushed me
- Psalm 118:27 Heb uncertain
Psalm 118
New International Version
Psalm 118
2 Let Israel say:(D)
“His love endures forever.”(E)
3 Let the house of Aaron say:(F)
“His love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord(G) say:
“His love endures forever.”
5 When hard pressed,(H) I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.(I)
6 The Lord is with me;(J) I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?(K)
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.(L)
I look in triumph on my enemies.(M)
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord(N)
than to trust in humans.(O)
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.(P)
10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.(Q)
11 They surrounded me(R) on every side,(S)
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,(T)
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;(U)
in the name of the Lord I cut them down.(V)
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the Lord helped me.(W)
14 The Lord is my strength(X) and my defense[a];
he has become my salvation.(Y)
15 Shouts of joy(Z) and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand(AA) has done mighty things!(AB)
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die(AC) but live,
and will proclaim(AD) what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened(AE) me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.(AF)
19 Open for me the gates(AG) of the righteous;
I will enter(AH) and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord(AI)
through which the righteous may enter.(AJ)
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;(AK)
you have become my salvation.(AL)
22 The stone(AM) the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;(AN)
23 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous(AO) in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.(AP)
25 Lord, save us!(AQ)
Lord, grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes(AR) in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.[b](AS)
27 The Lord is God,(AT)
and he has made his light shine(AU) on us.
With boughs in hand,(AV) join in the festal procession
up[c] to the horns of the altar.(AW)
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Footnotes
- 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
Copyright © 1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God’s Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
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.

