Psalms 118
1 O give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good, for his loving kindness is 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 is 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 is forever.
You [priests] who are descendants of Aaron should repeatedly shout, “He faithfully loves us, his people, forever!”
4 Let those now who fear Jehovah say that his loving kindness is forever.
All you who revere him should repeatedly shout, “He faithfully loves [us, his people], forever!”
5 Out of my distress I called upon Jehovah. Jehovah answered me upon a large place.
When I was distressed, I called out to Yahweh, and he answered me and set me free [from my worries/troubles].
6 Jehovah is on my side, I will not fear. 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 Jehovah is on my side among those who help me. Therefore I shall look upon 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 Jehovah 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 Jehovah than to put confidence in rulers.
It is better to trust Yahweh to protect [us] than to trust [that influential/important] people [will protect us].
10 All nations encompassed me around. In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.
Armies of [MTY] many nations surrounded me, [but] Yahweh enabled me to defeat them by his power [MTY].
11 They encompassed me around, yea, they encompassed me around. In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.
They completely surrounded me, [but] I defeated them all by the power of Yahweh.
12 They encompassed me around like bees. They are quenched as the fire of thorns. In the name of Jehovah I will 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 Thou thrusted greatly at me that I might fall, but Jehovah helped me.
[My enemies] attacked me fiercely and almost defeated me, but Yahweh helped me.
14 Jehovah is my strength and song, and 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 Jehovah 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 Jehovah is exalted. The right hand of Jehovah does valiantly.
he has raised his strong right arm [to show he has defeated his enemies]. Yahweh has completely defeated them!”
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of Jehovah.
I will not be killed [in battle]; I will live to proclaim the great things that Yahweh has done.
18 Jehovah has chastened me greatly, 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 Jehovah.
[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 Jehovah. The righteous shall 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 thee, for thou 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 head of the corner.
[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 Jehovah's doing. It is marvelous 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 which Jehovah 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 now, we beseech thee, O Jehovah. O Jehovah, we beseech thee, send now prosperity.
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 be he who comes in the name of Jehovah. We have blessed you out of the house of Jehovah.
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 Jehovah 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 Thou are my God, and I will give thanks to thee. Thou are my God, I will exalt thee.
[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 O give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good, for his loving kindness is forever.
Thank Yahweh, because he does good things [for us] He will faithfully love [us] forever.
