Psalm 118
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 118
A Song of Victory
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures forever!(A)
2 Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”(B)
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.(C)
6 With the Lord on my side I do not fear.
What can mortals do to me?(D)
7 The Lord is on my side to help me;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.(E)
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to put confidence in mortals.(F)
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to put confidence in princes.(G)
10 All nations surrounded me;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!(H)
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees;
they blazed[a] like a fire of thorns;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard,[b] so that I was falling,
but the Lord helped me.(I)
14 The Lord is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.(J)
15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;(K)
16 the right hand of the Lord is exalted;
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.”(L)
17 I shall not die, but I shall live
and recount the deeds of the Lord.(M)
18 The Lord has punished me severely,
but he did not give me over to death.(N)
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.(O)
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.(P)
21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.(Q)
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.(R)
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.[c]
25 Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.[d]
We bless you from the house of the Lord.(S)
27 The Lord is God,
and he has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the altar.[e](T)
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.(U)
29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.(V)
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
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible