Psalms — Chapter 118

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1O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

2Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

3Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

4Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

5I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.

6The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

7The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

8It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

9It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

10All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.

11They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

12They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

13Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.

14The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

15The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

16The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

17I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

18The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

19Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:

20This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.

21I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

22The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

23This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

24This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

26Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

27God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

28Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

29O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

1Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.

2Let Israel now say, That his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.

3Let the house of Aaron now say, That his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.

4Let them now that fear Jehovah say, That his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.

5Out of my distress I called upon Jehovah: Jehovah answered me [and set me] in a large place.

6Jehovah is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me?

7Jehovah is on my side among them that help me: Therefore shall I see [my desire] upon them that hate me.

8It is better to take refuge in Jehovah Than to put confidence in man.

9It is better to take refuge in Jehovah Than to put confidence in princes.

10All nations compassed me about: In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.

11They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.

12They compassed me about like bees; They are quenched as the fire of thorns: In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.

13Thou didst thrust sore at me that I might fall; But Jehovah helped me.

14Jehovah is my strength and song; And he is become my salvation.

15The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous: The right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly.

16The right hand of Jehovah is exalted: The right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly.

17I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of Jehovah.

18Jehovah hath chastened me sore; But he hath not given me over unto death.

19Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will enter into them, I will give thanks unto Jehovah.

20This is the gate of Jehovah; The righteous shall enter into it.

21I will give thanks unto thee; for thou hast answered me, And art become my salvation.

22The stone which the builders rejected Is become the head of the corner.

23This is Jehovah`s doing; It is marvellous in our eyes.

24This is the day which Jehovah hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

25Save now, we beseech thee, O Jehovah: O Jehovah, we beseech thee, send now prosperity.

26Blessed be he that cometh in the name of Jehovah: We have blessed you out of the house of Jehovah.

27Jehovah is God, and he hath given us light: Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

28Thou art my God, and I will give thanks unto thee: Thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

29Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever. Psalm 119 ALEPH.

1Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, and his loyal love endures.

2Let Israel say, “Yes, his loyal love endures.”

3Let the family of Aaron say, “Yes, his loyal love endures.”

4Let the loyal followers of the Lord say, “Yes, his loyal love endures.”

5In my distress I cried out to the Lord. The Lord answered me and put me in a wide open place.

6The Lord is on my side; I am not afraid. What can people do to me?

7The Lord is on my side as my helper. I look in triumph on those who hate me.

8It is better to take shelter in the Lord than to trust in people.

9It is better to take shelter in the Lord than to trust in princes.

10All the nations surrounded me. Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away.

11They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away.

12They surrounded me like bees. But they disappeared as quickly as a fire among thorns. Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away.

13“You aggressively attacked me and tried to knock me down, but the Lord helped me.

14The Lord gives me strength and protects me; he has become my deliverer.”

15They celebrate deliverance in the tents of the godly. The Lord’s right hand conquers.

16The Lord’s right hand gives victory; the Lord’s right hand conquers.

17I will not die, but live, and I will proclaim what the Lord has done.

18The Lord severely punished me, but he did not hand me over to death.

19Open for me the gates of the just king’s temple. I will enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.

20This is the Lord’s gate— the godly enter through it.

21I will give you thanks, for you answered me, and have become my deliverer.

22The stone that the builders discarded has become the cornerstone.

23This is the Lord’s work. We consider it amazing!

24This is the day the Lord has brought about. We will be happy and rejoice in it.

25Please, Lord, deliver! Please, Lord, grant us success!

26May the one who comes in the name of the Lord be blessed. We will pronounce blessings on you in the Lord’s temple.

27The Lord is God, and he has delivered us. Tie the offering with ropes to the horns of the altar.

28You are my God, and I will give you thanks. You are my God, and I will praise you.

29Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his loyal love endures.

1Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.

2Let Israel now say that his loving kindness endures forever.

3Let the house of Aaron now say that his loving kindness endures forever.

4Now let those who fear Yahweh say that his loving kindness endures forever.

5Out of my distress, I called on Yah. Yah answered me with freedom.

6Yahweh is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

7Yahweh is on my side among those who help me. Therefore I will look in triumph at those who hate me.

8It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in man.

9It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in princes.

10All the nations surrounded me, but in Yahweh’s name, I cut them off.

11They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. In Yahweh’s name I indeed cut them off.

12They surrounded me like bees. They are quenched like the burning thorns. In Yahweh’s name I cut them off.

13You pushed me back hard, to make me fall, but Yahweh helped me.

14Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation.

15The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. “The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly.

16The right hand of Yahweh is exalted! The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly!”

17I will not die, but live, and declare Yah’s works.

18Yah has punished me severely, but he has not given me over to death.

19Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will enter into them. I will give thanks to Yah.

20This is the gate of Yahweh; the righteous will enter into it.

21I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me, and have become my salvation.

22The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

23This is Yahweh’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes.

24This is the day that Yahweh has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!

25Save us now, we beg you, Yahweh! Yahweh, we beg you, send prosperity now.

26Blessed is he who comes in Yahweh’s name! We have blessed you out of Yahweh’s house.

27Yahweh is God, and he has given us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar.

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

29Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Videos
Reflection

Summary

A Hallel thanksgiving psalm — processional liturgy: 'This is the day which the LORD hath made'; 'the stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner'; 'Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the LORD.'

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses. Key themes: worship, lament, praise, trust, kingship, creation, wisdom, Messianic prophecy, and the full range of human emotion brought before God.
Classification: Hallel Psalm / Messianic Thanksgiving Attributed Author: Anonymous (possibly Davidic; final psalm of the Egyptian Hallel) Key Themes: God's enduring mercy, trust over human confidence, the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone, the day the LORD has made, Messianic triumph through rejection, processional worship
Historical Context: Psalm 118 concludes the Egyptian Hallel (113-118) and is the last psalm Jesus sang before Gethsemane (Matt 26:30). It is heavily Messianic — v.22 (the rejected stone) is quoted by Jesus (Matt 21:42), Peter (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet 2:7), and Paul (Eph 2:20). Verse 26 ("Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD") was shouted at Jesus' Triumphal Entry (Matt 21:9) and referenced in His lament over Jerusalem (Matt 23:39). Martin Luther called this psalm his favorite: "This is my psalm, my chosen psalm. I love them all... but this one is nearest my heart." The psalm moves from personal testimony through threat and deliverance to the temple gates, culminating in Messianic prophecy.
Structure:
  • Call to Thanksgiving (vv.1-4)
  • Personal Testimony of Deliverance (vv.5-18)
  • The Gate of Righteousness (vv.19-21)
  • The Rejected Cornerstone (vv.22-24)
  • Hosanna and Blessing (vv.25-27)
  • Personal Praise and Closing (vv.28-29)

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Reflection

  • 1. "What can man do unto me?" (v.6). Fear of man is neutralized by confidence in God. When God is on your side, no human opposition is ultimate. This doesn't promise comfort — it promises victory.
  • 2. Trust God over princes (vv.8-9). Every human institution will eventually fail you. Politicians, leaders, systems — all are limited. Only God's faithfulness is absolute.
  • 3. The rejected stone wins (v.22). If you've been rejected, overlooked, discarded by "builders" — remember: God specializes in making rejected things foundational. What humans refuse, God exalts.
  • 4. "This is the day" (v.24). Not just any day — the day of God's reversal, the day of resurrection hope. Rejoice in it specifically because GOD MADE IT HAPPEN, not because circumstances are easy.
  • 5. "Hosanna — save now!" (v.25). This is not a casual song. It's a desperate prayer: SAVE US NOW, LORD. The Triumphal Entry crowd was praying Psalm 118 — and the Answer was riding on a donkey before them.