Psalms 118

1 O give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

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 mercy is unchanging for ever.

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

3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy is unchanging for ever.

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

4 Let all worshippers of the Lord now say, that his mercy is unchanging for ever.

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

5 I made my prayer to the Lord in my trouble: and the Lord gave me an answer, and put me in a wide place.

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 have no fear: what is man able to 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 my great helper: I will see my desire against my haters.

[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 have faith in the Lord than to put one's hope in man.

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

9 It is better to have faith in the Lord than to put one's hope in rulers.

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

10 All the nations have come round me; but in the name of the Lord I will have them cut down.

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

11 They are round me, yes, they are all about me; but in the name of the Lord I will have them cut down.

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

12 They are round me like bees; but they are put out like a fire among thorns; for in the name of the Lord I will have them cut down.

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 I have been hard pushed by you, so that I might have a fall: but the Lord was my helper.

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

14 The Lord is my strength and my 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 sound of joy and salvation is in the tents of the upright; the right hand of the Lord does works of power.

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 lifted up; the right hand of the Lord does works of power.

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

17 Life and not death will be my part, and I will give out the story of the works of the Lord.

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

18 The hand of Jah has been hard on me; but he has not given me up to death.

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

19 Let the doors of righteousness be open to me; I will go in and give praise 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 door of the Lord's house; the workers of righteousness will go in through it.

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

21 I will give you praise, for you have given me an answer, 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 put on one side has become the chief stone of the building.

[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 a wonder 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 the Lord has made; we will be full of joy and delight 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 Send salvation now, O Lord; Lord, send us your blessing.

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 A blessing be on him who comes in the name of the Lord; we give you blessing from the house of the Lord.

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; let the holy dance be ordered with branches, even up 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 you praise; my God, and I will give honour to your name.

[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 praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

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