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God is good, so thank him[a]

118 Thank the Lord, because he is good.
    His faithful love will always be with us.
Israel's people must now say,
    ‘His faithful love will always be with us.’
Aaron's family, the priests, must now say,
    ‘His faithful love will always be with us.’
Everyone who serves the Lord must now say,
    ‘His faithful love will always be with us.’

I was in trouble,
    so I called to the Lord to help me.
The Lord answered me
    and he made me free.
The Lord is there to help me,
    so I will not be afraid.
What can any person do to hurt me?
The Lord is with me as my helper.
As for those people who hate me,
    I will win against them.
It is better to go to the Lord to keep you safe,
    than to trust in people.
It is better to trust the Lord to keep you safe,
    than to trust even in important people.

10 All the nations were ready to attack me,
but I turned them away
    by the power of the Lord.
11 Yes, they were all round me, ready to attack,
but I won against them
    in the name of the Lord.
12 They were all round me like a cloud of bees!
But they were like a fire in a thorn bush
    that burns quickly and has soon gone.
I turned them away
    by the power of the Lord.
13 My enemies attacked me
    and they tried to knock me down!
But the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord makes me strong
    and he takes care of me.
He is the one who keeps me safe.
15 Listen to the happy shouts of God's people in their tents!
They have won against their enemies,
    because the Lord has power to do great things.
16 Yes, the Lord has lifted up his strong right hand.
    He has the strength to win the battle!
17 I will not die. Instead, I will live.
I will tell everyone what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has punished me very much,
    but he has not let me die.
19 Open the gates of the temple!
I will go in there,
    and I will thank the Lord.
20 This is the Lord's gate.
Righteous people can go in through it.
21 I will thank you, Lord,
    because you answered my prayer.
You have rescued me.
22 The builders threw away a certain stone.
But now that stone has become the most important stone
    at the corner of the building.
23 The Lord has done this.
    And we can see that it is wonderful![b]
24 This is the day that the Lord has done a great thing.
    We will be very happy today!
25 Lord, please save us now!
    Lord, please help us to do well!
26 May the Lord bless the man who comes with his authority![c]
We praise you from here,
    in the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is our God.
    He has caused his light to shine on us.
Make a happy festival!
Take branches in your hands,
    and go to offer a sacrifice on the altar.

28 You are my God,
    and I will thank you.
You are my God,
    and I will say how great you are.
29 Thank the Lord, because he is good.
    His faithful love will always be with us.

Footnotes

  1. 118:1 Verses 1-4 tell everybody to thank the Lord, because he is good. Verses 5-7 tell us what God did to send help to Israel. In verses 8-9, the psalm teaches us that we can trust the Lord more than people. In verses 10-13, we read that the enemy was attacking Israel. Verses 14-18 tell us that we should be happy when God helps us. He has the power and authority to help us when we have troubles. Verses 21-24 again tell us what God has done. He has rescued his people.
  2. 118:23 See Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7.
  3. 118:26 See Matthew 21:9; 23:39; Mark 11:9; Luke 13:35; 19:38; John 12:13.

Psalm 118

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

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

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

It is better to take refuge in the Lord(N)
    than to trust in humans.(O)
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