Psalm 118
1 O GIVE thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!2 Let Israel now say that His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.3 Let the house of Aaron [the priesthood] now say that His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.4 Let those now who reverently and worshipfully fear the Lord say that His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.5 Out of my distress I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free and in a large place.6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7 The Lord is on my side and takes my part, He is among those who help me; therefore shall I see my desire established upon those who hate me.8 It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man.9 It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.10 All nations (the surrounding tribes) compassed me about, but in the name of the Lord I will cut them off!11 They compassed me about, yes, they surrounded me on every side; but in the name of the Lord I will cut them off!12 They swarmed about me like bees, they blaze up and are extinguished like a fire of thorns; in the name of the Lord I will cut them off! 13 You [my adversary] thrust sorely at me that I might fall, but the Lord helped me.14 The Lord is my Strength and Song; and He has become my Salvation.15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents and private dwellings of the [uncompromisingly] righteous: the right hand of the Lord does valiantly and achieves strength!16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly and achieves strength!17 I shall not die but live, and shall declare the works and recount the illustrious acts of the Lord.18 The Lord has chastened me sorely, but He has not given me over to death. 19 Open to me the [temple] gates of righteousness; I will enter through them, and I will confess and praise the Lord.20 This is the gate of the Lord; the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall enter through it. 21 I will confess, praise, and give thanks to You, for You have heard and answered me; and You have become my Salvation and Deliverer.22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.23 This is from the Lord and is His doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day which the Lord has brought about; we will rejoice and be glad in it.25 Save now, we beseech You, O Lord; send now prosperity, O Lord, we beseech You, and give to us success!26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord [you who come into His sanctuary under His guardianship]. 27 The Lord is God, Who has shown and given us light [He has illuminated us with grace, freedom, and joy]. Decorate the festival with leafy boughs and bind the sacrifices to be offered with thick cords [all over the priest’s court, right up] to the horns of the altar.28 You are my God, and I will confess, praise, and 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 mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.
Psalm 118
1-4
Thank God because he's good, because his love never quits. Tell the world, Israel, "His love never quits." And you, clan of Aaron, tell the world, "His love never quits." And you who fear God, join in, "His love never quits."
5-16 Pushed to the wall, I called to God; from the wide open spaces, he answered. God's now at my side and I'm not afraid; who would dare lay a hand on me? God's my strong champion; I flick off my enemies like flies. Far better to take refuge in God than trust in people; Far better to take refuge in God than trust in celebrities. Hemmed in by barbarians, in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt; Hemmed in and with no way out, in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt; Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in; in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt. I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall, when God grabbed and held me. God's my strength, he's also my song, and now he's my salvation. Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs in the camp of the saved? "The hand of God has turned the tide! The hand of God is raised in victory! The hand of God has turned the tide!"
17-20 I didn't die. I lived! And now I'm telling the world what God did. God tested me, he pushed me hard, but he didn't hand me over to Death. Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates! I'll walk right through and thank God! This Temple Gate belongs to God, so the victors can enter and praise.
21-25 Thank you for responding to me; you've truly become my salvation! The stone the masons discarded as flawed is now the capstone! This is God's work. We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it! This is the very day God acted— let's celebrate and be festive! Salvation now, God. Salvation now! Oh yes, God—a free and full life!
26-29 Blessed are you who enter in God's name— from God's house we bless you! God is God, he has bathed us in light. Festoon the shrine with garlands, hang colored banners above the altar! You're my God, and I thank you. O my God, I lift high your praise. Thank God—he's so good. His love never quits!