Psalms 118
1 Alleluia. Confess to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy 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: For he is good, for his mercy is forever.
You Israeli [people] should [repeatedly] shout, “He faithfully loves [us, his people], forever!”
3 Let the house of Aaron now say: For his mercy is forever.
You [priests] who are descendants of Aaron should repeatedly shout, “He faithfully loves us, his people, forever!”
4 Let those who fear the Lord now say: For his mercy is forever.
All you who revere him should repeatedly shout, “He faithfully loves [us, his people], forever!”
5 In my tribulation, I called upon the Lord. And the Lord heeded me with generosity.
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 my helper. I will not fear what man can 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 helper. And I will look down upon my enemies.
[Yes], Yahweh is (on my side/helping me), [so] I will look triumphantly at my enemies [while he defeats them].
8 It is good to trust in the Lord, rather than to trust in man.
It is better to trust in Yahweh than to (depend on/trust in) people.
9 It is good to hope in the Lord, rather than to hope in leaders.
It is better to trust Yahweh to protect [us] than to trust [that influential/important] people [will protect us].
10 All the nations have surrounded me. And, in the name of the Lord, I have been avenged over them.
Armies of [MTY] many nations surrounded me, [but] Yahweh enabled me to defeat them by his power [MTY].
11 Surrounding me, they closed in on me. And, in the name of the Lord, I have been avenged over them.
They completely surrounded me, [but] I defeated them all by the power of Yahweh.
12 They surrounded me like a swarm, and they burned like fire among the thorns. And, in the name of the Lord, I have been avenged over them.
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 Having been pushed, I was overturned so as to fall. But the Lord took me up.
[My enemies] attacked me fiercely and almost defeated me, but Yahweh helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my praise. 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 A voice of exultation and salvation is in the tabernacles of the just.
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 has wrought virtue. The right hand of the Lord has exalted me. The right hand of the Lord has wrought virtue.
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 I will live. And I will declare 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 When chastising, the Lord chastised me. But he has not delivered me over to death.
Yahweh has punished me severely, but he has not allowed (me to die/[my enemies] to kill me).
19 Open the gates of justice to me. I will enter them, and I will confess 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 just will enter by it.
Those are the gates [through which we enter the temple to worship] Yahweh; godly/righteous people enter those gates.
21 I will confess to you because you have heard me. And you 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 have rejected, this 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 By the Lord has this been done, and it is a wonder before 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. Let us exult and rejoice 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 O Lord, grant salvation to me. O Lord, grant good 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 is he who arrives in the name of the Lord. We have blessed you 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 enlightened us. Establish a solemn day amid a dense crowd, even to the horn 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 confess to you. You are my God, and I will exalt you. I will confess to you, for you have heeded me. And you have become my salvation.
[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 Confess to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy is forever.
Thank Yahweh, because he does good things [for us] He will faithfully love [us] forever.
