Psalms 118
1 Tell Yahweh that you thank him very much for the good [things that he has done for you] He faithfully loves [us, his people], forever.
Thank the Lord, for he is good! His trustworthy love lasts forever.
2 You Israeli [people] should [repeatedly] shout, “He faithfully loves [us, his people], forever!”
Let all Israel say, “His trustworthy love lasts forever.”
3 You [priests] who are descendants of Aaron should repeatedly shout, “He faithfully loves us, his people, forever!”
Let Aaron's descendants say, “His trustworthy love lasts forever.”
4 All you who revere him should repeatedly shout, “He faithfully loves [us, his people], forever!”
Let those who honor the Lord say, “His trustworthy love lasts forever.”
5 When I was distressed, I called out to Yahweh, and he answered me and set me free [from my worries/troubles].
I was suffering badly, so I cried out to the Lord for help. He answered me and set me free from my pain.
6 Yahweh is (on my side/helping me), so I will not be afraid [of anything]. No one [RHQ] can do anything that will [prevent God from blessing] me forever.
The Lord is with me, so I have nothing to fear. No one can harm me.
7 [Yes], Yahweh is (on my side/helping me), [so] I will look triumphantly at my enemies [while he defeats them].
The Lord is with me, he will help me. I will see those who hate me defeated.
8 It is better to trust in Yahweh than to (depend on/trust in) people.
It's better to rely on the Lord than to trust in people.
9 It is better to trust Yahweh to protect [us] than to trust [that influential/important] people [will protect us].
It's better to rely on the Lord than to trust in the rich and powerful.
10 Armies of [MTY] many nations surrounded me, [but] Yahweh enabled me to defeat them by his power [MTY].
Even though all the heathen nations surrounded me, I defeated them with the help of the Lord.
11 They completely surrounded me, [but] I defeated them all by the power of Yahweh.
They completely surrounded me, but even so I defeated them with the help of the Lord.
12 They swarmed around me like [angry] bees; they were like a fire that blazes strongly, but only briefly, in a thornbush, [but] I defeated them by the power [MTY] that Yahweh gave me.
Like a swarm of bees they attacked, but their attack died out as quickly as burning thorn twigs. I defeated them with the help of the Lord.
13 [My enemies] attacked me fiercely and almost defeated me, but Yahweh helped me.
They tried as hard as they could to kill me, but the Lord helped me.
14 Yahweh is the one who makes me strong, and he is the one about whom I [always] sing; he has saved me [from my enemies].
The Lord is my strength, and the one I sing about. He is the one who saves me.
15 Listen to the joyful songs of victory being sung in the tents of godly/righteous people! They sing, “Yahweh has defeated our enemies by his mighty power [MTY];
Songs of celebration and victory come from the tents of the faithful. The Lord's powerful hand has done amazing things!
16 he has raised his strong right arm [to show he has defeated his enemies]. Yahweh has completely defeated them!”
The Lord raises his powerful hand in victory! The Lord's powerful hand has done amazing things!
17 I will not be killed [in battle]; I will live to proclaim the great things that Yahweh has done.
I'm not going to die. In fact I'm going to live, and let people know what the Lord has done.
18 Yahweh has punished me severely, but he has not allowed (me to die/[my enemies] to kill me).
Even though the Lord punished me severely, he did not let me die.
19 [You gatekeepers], open for me the gates of the temple in order that I may enter and thank Yahweh.
Open the gates of the faithful for me so I can go in and thank the Lord.
20 Those are the gates [through which we enter the temple to worship] Yahweh; godly/righteous people enter those gates.
These are the gates of the Lord where God's faithful people enter.
21 [Yahweh], I thank you that you answered my prayer, and you saved me [from my enemies].
I want to thank you for answering me and for being the one who saves me.
22 [Yahweh’s promised/chosen king is like] [MET] the stone which the builders rejected [when they were building a house], [but that stone] became the (cornerstone/most important stone in the building).
The stone rejected by the builders has turned out to be the chief cornerstone.
23 (This was done by Yahweh/Yahweh has done this), and it is a wonderful thing for us to see.
The Lord has done this, and it looks wonderful to us!
24 This is the day in which [we remember that] Yahweh acted [powerfully to defeat our enemies]; we will rejoice and be glad/happy today.
The Lord made this day happen! We will celebrate and be happy for it!
25 Yahweh, we plead with you to [keep] rescuing us [from our enemies]. Yahweh, please help us (accomplish/do well) [what we want to do].
Lord, please save us! Lord, please make us successful!
26 Yahweh, bless the one who will come with your authority [MTY]. And from the temple we (bless/[ask Yahweh to] bless) all of you.
May the one who comes in the power of the Lord by blessed! We bless you from the house of the Lord!
27 Yahweh is God, and he has caused his light to shine on us. Come, carrying [palm] branches, and join the people [who are starting] the festival as they go to the altar.
The Lord is God, and his goodness shines on us. Branches in hand, start the procession up towards the altar.
28 [Yahweh], you are the God whom I [worship], and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will tell [everyone] that you are great!
You are my God, and I will thank you! You are my God, and I will praise you!
29 Thank Yahweh, because he does good things [for us] He will faithfully love [us] forever.
Thank the Lord, for he is good! His trustworthy love lasts forever!
