Psalm 118

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 They 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.

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

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

16 the Lord’s right hand gives victory,
the Lord’s right hand conquers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PSALMS 118

The [Lord] Is Always Merciful

1  t Tell the [Lord]
how thankful you are,
because he is kind
and always merciful.

2 Let Israel shout,
“God is always merciful!”

3 Let the family of Aaron
the priest shout,
“God is always merciful!”

4 Let every true worshiper
of the [Lord] shout,
“God is always merciful!”

5 When I was really hurting,
I prayed to the [Lord].
He answered my prayer,
and took my worries away.

6  t The [Lord] is on my side,
and I am not afraid
of what others can do to me.

7 With the [Lord] on my side,
I will defeat
my hateful enemies.

8 It is better to trust the [Lord]
for protection
than to trust anyone else,

9 including strong leaders.

10 Nations surrounded me,
but I got rid of them
by the power of the [Lord].

11 They attacked from all sides,
but I got rid of them
by the power of the [Lord].

12 They swarmed around like bees,
but by the power of the [Lord],
I got rid of them
and their fiery sting.

13 Their attacks were so fierce
that I nearly fell,
but the [Lord] helped me.

14  t My power and my strength
come from the [Lord],
and he has saved me.

15 From the tents of God's people
come shouts of victory:
“The [Lord] is powerful!

16 With his mighty arm
the [Lord] wins victories!
The [Lord] is powerful!”

17 And so my life is safe,
and I will live to tell
what the [Lord] has done.

18 He punished me terribly,
but he did not let death
lay its hands on me.

19 Open the gates of justice!
I will enter and tell the [Lord]
how thankful I am.

20 Here is the gate of the [Lord]!
Everyone who does right
may enter this gate.

21 I praise the [Lord]
for answering my prayers
and saving me.

22  t t The stone that the builders
tossed aside
has now become
the most important stone.

23 The [Lord] has done this,
and it is amazing to us.

24 This day belongs to the [Lord]!
Let's celebrate
and be glad today.

25  t We'll ask the [Lord] to save us!
We'll sincerely ask the [Lord]
to let us win.

26  t God bless the one who comes
in the name of the [Lord]!
We praise you from here
in the house of the [Lord].

27 The [Lord] is our God,
and he has given us light!
Start the celebration!
March with palm branches
all the way to the altar.t

28 The [Lord] is my God!
I will praise him and tell him
how thankful I am.

29 Tell the [Lord]
how thankful you are,
because he is kind
and always merciful.