Psalms 118

1 Alleluia. Give thanks to the Lord; for [he is] good: for his mercy [endures] for ever.

Thank the Lord, for he is good! His trustworthy love lasts forever.

2 Let now the house of Israel say, that [he is] good: for his mercy [endures] for ever.

Let all Israel say, “His trustworthy love lasts forever.”

3 Let now the house of Aaron say, that [he is] good: for his mercy [endures] for ever.

Let Aaron's descendants say, “His trustworthy love lasts forever.”

4 Let now all that fear the Lord say, that [he is] good: for his mercy [endures] for ever.

Let those who honor the Lord say, “His trustworthy love lasts forever.”

5 I called on the Lord out of affliction: and he listened to me, [so as to bring me] into a wide place.

I was suffering badly, so I cried out to the Lord for help. He answered me and set me free from my pain.

6 The Lord is my helper; and I will not fear what man shall do to me.

The Lord is with me, so I have nothing to fear. No one can harm me.

7 The Lord is my helper; and I shall see [my desire] upon mine enemies.

The Lord is with me, he will help me. I will see those who hate me defeated.

8 [It is] better to trust in the Lord than to trust in man.

It's better to rely on the Lord than to trust in people.

9 [It is] better to hope in the Lord, than to hope in princes.

It's better to rely on the Lord than to trust in the rich and powerful.

10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I repulsed them.

Even though all the heathen nations surrounded me, I defeated them with the help of the Lord.

11 They completely compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I repulsed them.

They completely surrounded me, but even so I defeated them with the help of the Lord.

12 They compassed me about as bees [do] a honeycomb, and they burst into flame as fire amongst thorns: but in the name of the Lord I repulsed them.

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 I was thrust, and sorely shaken, that I might fall: but the Lord helped me.

They tried as hard as they could to kill me, but the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and my song, and is become my salvation.

The Lord is my strength, and the one I sing about. He is the one who saves me.

15 The voice of exultation and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord has wrought mightily.

Songs of celebration and victory come from the tents of the faithful. The Lord's powerful hand has done amazing things!

16 The right hand of the Lord has exalted me: the right hand of the Lord has wrought powerfully.

The Lord raises his powerful hand in victory! The Lord's powerful hand has done amazing things!

17 I shall not die, but live, and recount the works of the Lord.

I'm not going to die. In fact I'm going to live, and let people know what the Lord has done.

18 The Lord has chastened me sore: but he has not given me up to death.

Even though the Lord punished me severely, he did not let me die.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and give praise to the Lord.

Open the gates of the faithful for me so I can go in and thank the Lord.

20 This is the gate of the Lord: the righteous shall enter by it.

These are the gates of the Lord where God's faithful people enter.

21 I will give thanks to you; because you have heard me, and are become my salvation.

I want to thank you for answering me and for being the one who saves me.

22 The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner.

The stone rejected by the builders has turned out to be the chief cornerstone.

23 This has been done of the Lord; and it is wonderful in our eyes.

The Lord has done this, and it looks wonderful to us!

24 This is the day which the Lord has made: let us exult and rejoice in it.

The Lord made this day happen! We will celebrate and be happy for it!

25 O Lord, save now: O Lord, send now prosperity.

Lord, please save us! Lord, please make us successful!

26 Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.

May the one who comes in the power of the Lord by blessed! We bless you from the house of the Lord!

27 God is the Lord, and he has shined upon us: celebrate the feast with thick [branches, binding the victims] even to the horns of the altar.

The Lord is God, and his goodness shines on us. Branches in hand, start the procession up towards the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks: you are my God, and I will exalt you. I will give thanks to you, for you have heard me, and are become my salvation.

You are my God, and I will thank you! You are my God, and I will praise you!

29 Give thanks to the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy [endures] for ever.

Thank the Lord, for he is good! His trustworthy love lasts forever!