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
International Standard Version
Thanksgiving to God
118 Give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good;
his gracious love is eternal.
2 Let Israel now say,
“His gracious love is eternal.”
3 Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His gracious love is eternal.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord now say,
“His gracious love is eternal.”
5 I called on the Lord in my distress;
the Lord answered me openly.[a]
6 The Lord is with me.
I will not be afraid.
What can people do to me?
7 With the Lord beside me as my helper,
I will triumph over those who hate me.
8 It is better to take shelter[b] in the Lord
than to trust in people.
9 It is better to take shelter[c] in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me;
but in the name of the Lord I will defeat them.
11 They surrounded me, they are around me;
but in the name of the Lord I will defeat them.
12 They surrounded me like bees;
but they will be extinguished like[d] burning thorns.
In the name of the Lord I will defeat them.
13 Indeed, you[e] oppressed me so much that I nearly fell,
but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and protector,[f]
for he has become my deliverer.[g]
15 There’s exultation[h] for deliverance in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord is victorious![i]
16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted!
The right hand of the Lord is victorious!”[j]
17 I will not die, but I will live
to recount the deeds of the Lord.
18 The Lord will discipline me severely,
but he won’t hand me over to die.
19 Open for me the righteous gates
so I may enter through them to give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the Lord’s gate—
The righteous will enter through it.
21 I will praise you because you have answered me
and have become my deliverer.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
23 This is from the Lord—
it is awesome in our sight.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
let’s rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Please Lord, deliver us!
Please Lord, hurry[k] and bring success now!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Let us bless you from the Lord’s house.
27 The Lord is God—he will be our light!
Bind the festival sacrifice with ropes
to the horn at the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you;
my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
and his gracious love is eternal.
Footnotes
- Psalm 118:5 Lit. in a wide open place
- Psalm 118:8 Or refuge; LXX DSS 4QPsb 11QPsa read to trust
- Psalm 118:9 Or refuge
- Psalm 118:12 So MT DSS 4QPsb; LXX reads bees; they blazed like a fire among
- Psalm 118:13 I.e. the enemy
- Psalm 118:14 Or might
- Psalm 118:14 Or salvation
- Psalm 118:15 Lit. sound of
- Psalm 118:15 Lit. Lord acted valiantly
- Psalm 118:16 MT reads Lord acted valiantly; LXX DSS 11QPsa read Lord acted powerfully
- Psalm 118:25 Or rush
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