Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options
Close NABRE

Psalm 118
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Psalm 118[a]

Hymn of Thanksgiving

I

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,(A)
    his mercy endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
    his mercy endures forever.
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
    his mercy endures forever.
4 Let those who fear the Lord say,(B)
    his mercy endures forever.

II

5 In danger I called on the Lord;
    the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is with me; I am not afraid;
    what can mortals do against me?(C)
7 The Lord is with me as my helper;
    I shall look in triumph on my foes.
8 Better to take refuge in the Lord(D)
    than to put one’s trust in mortals.
9 Better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to put one’s trust in princes.

III

10 All the nations surrounded me;
    in the Lord’s name I cut them off.
11 They surrounded me on every side;
    in the Lord’s name I cut them off.
12 They surrounded me like bees;(E)
    they burned up like fire among thorns;
    in the Lord’s name I cut them off.
13 I was hard pressed and falling,
    but the Lord came to my help.(F)
14 The Lord, my strength and might,
    has become my savior.(G)

IV

15 The joyful shout of deliverance
    is heard in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand works valiantly;
16     the Lord’s right hand is raised;
    the Lord’s right hand works valiantly.”
17 I shall not die but live
    and declare the deeds of the Lord.
18 The Lord chastised me harshly,
    but did not hand me over to death.

V

19 Open the gates of righteousness;
    I will enter and thank the Lord.(H)
20 This is the Lord’s own gate,
    through it the righteous enter.
21 I thank you for you answered me;
    you have been my savior.
22 [b]The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.(I)
23 By the Lord has this been done;
    it is wonderful in our eyes.
24 This is the day the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice in it and be glad.
25 Lord, grant salvation![c]
    Lord, grant good fortune!

VI

26 Blessed is he
    who comes in the name of the Lord.(J)
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27     The Lord is God and has enlightened us.
Join in procession with leafy branches
    up to the horns of the altar.

VII

28 You are my God, I give you thanks;
    my God, I offer you praise.
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    his mercy endures forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 118 A thanksgiving liturgy accompanying a procession of the king and the people into the Temple precincts. After an invocation in the form of a litany (Ps 118:1–4), the psalmist (very likely speaking in the name of the community) describes how the people confidently implored God’s help (Ps 118:5–9) when hostile peoples threatened its life (Ps 118:10–14); vividly God’s rescue is recounted (Ps 118:15–18). Then follows a possible dialogue at the Temple gates between the priests and the psalmist as the latter enters to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice (Ps 118:19–25). Finally, the priests impart their blessing (Ps 118:26–27), and the psalmist sings in gratitude (Ps 118:28–29).
  2. 118:22 The stone the builders rejected: a proverb: what is insignificant to human beings has become great through divine election. The “stone” may originally have meant the foundation stone or capstone of the Temple. The New Testament interpreted the verse as referring to the death and resurrection of Christ (Mt 21:42; Acts 4:11; cf. Is 28:16 and Rom 9:33; 1 Pt 2:7).
  3. 118:25 Grant salvation: the Hebrew for this cry has come into English as “Hosanna.” This cry and the words in Ps 118:26 were used in the gospels to welcome Jesus entering the Temple on Palm Sunday (Mk 11:9–10).
Listen to Psalm 118
Close NIV

Psalm 118
New International Version

Psalm 118

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

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

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

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord(N)
    than to trust in humans.(O)
9 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
Next
Psalm 117
Psalm 119
Next
dropdown
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV