Psalms 118

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.

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.

2 Let Israel now say that his loving kindness endures forever.

You Israeli [people] should [repeatedly] shout, “He faithfully loves [us, his people], forever!”

3 Let the house of Aaron now say that his loving kindness endures forever.

You [priests] who are descendants of Aaron should repeatedly shout, “He faithfully loves us, his people, forever!”

4 Now let those who fear the LORD say that his loving kindness endures forever.

All you who revere him should repeatedly shout, “He faithfully loves [us, his people], forever!”

5 Out of my distress, I called on the LORD. The LORD answered me with freedom.

When I was distressed, I called out to Yahweh, and he answered me and set me free [from my worries/troubles].

6 The LORD is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

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.

7 The LORD is on my side amongst those who help me. Therefore I will look in triumph at those who hate me.

[Yes], Yahweh is (on my side/helping me), [so] I will look triumphantly at my enemies [while he defeats them].

8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD, than to put confidence in man.

It is better to trust in Yahweh than to (depend on/trust in) people.

9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD, than to put confidence in princes.

It is better to trust Yahweh to protect [us] than to trust [that influential/important] people [will protect us].

10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the LORD’s name I cut them off.

Armies of [MTY] many nations surrounded me, [but] Yahweh enabled me to defeat them by his power [MTY].

11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. In the LORD’s name I indeed cut them off.

They completely surrounded me, [but] I defeated them all by the power of Yahweh.

12 They surrounded me like bees. They are quenched like the burning thorns. In the LORD’s name I cut them off.

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.

13 You pushed me back hard, to make me fall, but the LORD helped me.

[My enemies] attacked me fiercely and almost defeated me, but Yahweh helped me.

14 The LORD is my strength and song. He has become my salvation.

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].

15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.

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];

16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted! The right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”

he has raised his strong right arm [to show he has defeated his enemies]. Yahweh has completely defeated them!”

17 I will not die, but live, and declare the LORD’s works.

I will not be killed [in battle]; I will live to proclaim the great things that Yahweh has done.

18 The LORD has punished me severely, but he has not given me over to death.

Yahweh has punished me severely, but he has not allowed (me to die/[my enemies] to kill me).

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will enter into them. I will give thanks to the LORD.

[You gatekeepers], open for me the gates of the temple in order that I may enter and thank Yahweh.

20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous will enter into it.

Those are the gates [through which we enter the temple to worship] Yahweh; godly/righteous people enter those gates.

21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me, and have become my salvation.

[Yahweh], I thank you that you answered my prayer, and you saved me [from my enemies].

22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

[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).

23 This is the LORD’s doing. It is marvellous in our eyes.

(This was done by Yahweh/Yahweh has done this), and it is a wonderful thing for us to see.

24 This is the day that the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!

This is the day in which [we remember that] Yahweh acted [powerfully to defeat our enemies]; we will rejoice and be glad/happy today.

25 Save us now, we beg you, LORD! LORD, we beg you, send prosperity now.

Yahweh, we plead with you to [keep] rescuing us [from our enemies]. Yahweh, please help us (accomplish/do well) [what we want to do].

26 Blessed is he who comes in the LORD’s name! We have blessed you out of the LORD’s house.

Yahweh, bless the one who will come with your authority [MTY]. And from the temple we (bless/[ask Yahweh to] bless) all of you.

27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar.

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.

28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you. You are my God, I will exalt you.

[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!

29 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.

Thank Yahweh, because he does good things [for us] He will faithfully love [us] forever.