Psalms 118
Song of Victory
1Give thanks to the LORD, 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 the LORD say that his loving kindness endures forever.
5Out of my distress, I called on the LORD. The LORD answered me with freedom.
6The LORD is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
7The LORD 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 the LORD, than to put confidence in man.
9It is better to take refuge in the LORD, than to put confidence in princes.
10All the nations surrounded me, but in the LORD’s name I cut them off.
11They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. In the LORD’s name I indeed cut them off.
12They surrounded me like bees. They are quenched like the burning thorns. In the LORD’s name I cut them off.
13You pushed me back hard, to make me fall, but the LORD helped me.
14The LORD 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 the LORD does valiantly.
16The right hand of the LORD is exalted! The right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”
17I will not die, but live, and declare the LORD’s works.
18The LORD 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 the LORD.
20This is the gate of the LORD; 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 the LORD’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes.
24This is the day that the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!
25Save us now, we beg you, LORD! LORD, we beg you, send prosperity now.
26Blessed is he who comes in the LORD’s name! We have blessed you out of the LORD’s house.
27The LORD 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 the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
Psalm 118 is a triumphant song of thanksgiving celebrating God's deliverance from overwhelming enemies. The psalmist calls all Israel to praise God's enduring love, recounts being surrounded by hostile nations but finding victory through divine intervention, and declares confidence in God's salvation over human help. The psalm culminates in messianic imagery of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone, making this both a personal testimony of deliverance and a prophetic declaration of God's ultimate triumph.
Context
As the final psalm in the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113-118), this chapter serves as a climactic celebration of God's deliverance, traditionally sung during Passover and other festivals.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4Call to Universal PraiseThe psalmist summons Israel, priests, and all God-fearers to declare the Lord's enduring loving kindness.
- 5-9Personal Testimony of DeliveranceThe speaker recounts calling on God in distress and finding freedom, declaring trust in divine rather than human help.
- 10-18Victory Over Surrounding EnemiesVivid imagery describes being encircled by hostile nations like swarming bees, yet finding triumph through God's strength.
- 19-24Entrance into God's PresenceThe psalmist seeks entry through the gates of righteousness, celebrating the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone.
- 25-29Liturgical Blessing and ConclusionA communal prayer for salvation and prosperity concludes with renewed thanksgiving for God's enduring goodness.
Song of Victory
118:1–118:29A victory song celebrating God's deliverance from enemies, emphasizing trust in the LORD over human strength and featuring the famous cornerstone imagery.
quotation_chain
Psalm 118's "rejected stone" (v. 22) and "blessed is he who comes" (v. 26) become Christianity's most quoted messianic prophecies, appearing in Matthew and Acts.
Psalms 118:1
Psalms 106:1lexicalPraise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
Psalms 107:1lexicalGive thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
2 Chronicles 20:21lexicalWhen he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and give praise in holy array…
1 Chronicles 16:34lexicalOh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
Psalms 136:2lexicalGive thanks to the God of gods, for his loving kindness endures forever.
Psalms 118:14
Exodus 15:2lexicalThe LORD is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him; my father’s God, an…
Isaiah 12:2lexicalBehold, God is my salvation. I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD, the LORD, is my strength and song; and…
Psalms 118:22
Matthew 21:42quotationJesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of t…
Acts 4:11quotationHe is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’
Psalms 118:29
Psalms 107:1lexicalGive thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
Psalms 106:1lexicalPraise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34lexicalOh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
2 Chronicles 20:21lexicalWhen he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and give praise in holy array…
2 Chronicles 7:3lexicalAll the children of Israel looked on, when the fire came down, and the LORD’s glory was on the house. They bowed themsel…
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language