Psalm 118

Psalm 118

118 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
    because his faithful love lasts forever.
² Let Israel say it:
    “God’s faithful love lasts forever!”
³ Let the house of Aaron say it:
    “God’s faithful love lasts forever!”
⁴ Let those who honor the Lord say it:
    “God’s faithful love lasts forever!”

⁵ In tight circumstances, I cried out to the Lord.
    The Lord answered me with wide-open spaces.
⁶ The Lord is for me—I won’t be afraid.
    What can anyone do to me?
⁷ The Lord is for me—as my helper.
    I look in victory on those who hate me.
⁸ It’s far better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust any human.
⁹ It’s far better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust any human leader.
¹⁰ All the nations surrounded me,
    but I cut them down in the Lord’s name.
¹¹ Yes, they surrounded me on every single side,
    but I cut them down in the Lord’s name.
¹² They surrounded me like bees,
    but they were extinguished like burning thorns.
    I cut them down in the Lord’s name!
¹³ I was pushed so hard I nearly died,
    but the Lord helped me.
¹⁴ The Lord was my strength and protection;
    he was my saving help!
¹⁵ The sounds of joyful songs and deliverance
    are heard in the tents of the righteous:
    “The Lord’s strong hand is victorious!
¹⁶     The Lord’s strong hand is ready to strike!
        The Lord’s strong hand is victorious!”

¹⁷ I won’t die—no, I will live
    and declare what the Lord has done.
¹⁸ Yes, the Lord definitely disciplined me,
    but he didn’t hand me over to death.

¹⁹ Open the gates of righteousness for me
    so I can come in and give thanks to the Lord!
²⁰ This is the Lord’s gate;
    those who are righteous enter through it.

²¹ I thank you because you answered me,
    because you were my saving help.
²² The stone rejected by the builders
    is now the main foundation stone!
²³ This has happened because of the Lord;
    it is astounding in our sight!
²⁴ This is the day the Lord acted;
    we will rejoice and celebrate in it!

²⁵ Lord, please save us!
    Lord, please let us succeed!

²⁶ The one who enters in the Lord’s name is blessed;
    we bless all of you from the Lord’s house.
²⁷ The Lord is God!
    He has shined a light on us!
So lead the festival offering with ropes
    all the way to the horns of the altar.
²⁸ You are my God—I will give thanks to you!
    You are my God—I will lift you up high!
²⁹ Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
    because his faithful love lasts forever.

Copyright 2012 by Common English Bible. Used by permission.