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Psalm 118

A Song of Victory

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his steadfast love endures for ever!

Let Israel say,
    ‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’
Let the house of Aaron say,
    ‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’
Let those who fear the Lord say,
    ‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’

Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
    the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
With the Lord on my side I do not fear.
    What can mortals do to me?
The Lord is on my side to help me;
    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to put confidence in mortals.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to put confidence in princes.

10 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 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.
14 The Lord is my strength and my might;
    he has become my salvation.

15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
‘The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
16     the right hand of the Lord is exalted;
    the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.’
17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
    and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18 The Lord has punished me severely,
    but he did not give me over to death.

19 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;
    the righteous shall enter through it.

21 I thank you that you have answered me
    and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
    it is marvellous 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.
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]

28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
    you are my God, I will extol you.

29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures for ever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 118:12 Gk: Heb were extinguished
  2. Psalm 118:13 Gk Syr Jerome: Heb You pushed me hard
  3. Psalm 118:24 Or in him
  4. Psalm 118:26 Or Blessed in the name of the Lord is the one who comes
  5. Psalm 118:27 Meaning of Heb uncertain

Psalm 118

Give thanks to the Lord,(A) for he is good;(B)
    his love endures forever.(C)

Let Israel say:(D)
    “His love endures forever.”(E)
Let the house of Aaron say:(F)
    “His love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord(G) say:
    “His love endures forever.”

When hard pressed,(H) I cried to the Lord;
    he brought me into a spacious place.(I)
The Lord is with me;(J) I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?(K)
The Lord is with me; he is my helper.(L)
    I look in triumph on my enemies.(M)

It is better to take refuge in the Lord(N)
    than to trust in humans.(O)
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)

28 You are my God, and I will praise you;
    you are my God,(AX) and I will exalt(AY) you.

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 118:14 Or song
  2. Psalm 118:26 The Hebrew is plural.
  3. Psalm 118:27 Or Bind the festal sacrifice with ropes / and take it