Psalms 118
1 'O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy endureth 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 So let Israel now say, for His mercy endureth for ever,
You Israeli [people] should [repeatedly] shout, “He faithfully loves [us, his people], forever!”
3 So let the house of Aaron now say, for His mercy endureth for ever.
You [priests] who are descendants of Aaron should repeatedly shout, “He faithfully loves us, his people, forever!”
4 So let them now that fear the LORD say, for His mercy endureth for ever.
All you who revere him should repeatedly shout, “He faithfully loves [us, his people], forever!”
5 Out of my straits I called upon the LORD; He answered me with great enlargement.
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 for me; I will not fear; what can man do unto 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 for me as my helper; and I shall gaze upon them that 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 trust 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 trust in princes.
It is better to trust Yahweh to protect [us] than to trust [that influential/important] people [will protect us].
10 All nations compass me about; verily, in the name of the LORD 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 compass me about, yea, they compass me about; verily, in the name of the LORD I will cut them off.
They completely surrounded me, [but] I defeated them all by the power of Yahweh.
12 They compass me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns; verily, in the name of the LORD 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 didst thrust sore at me that I might 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; and He is 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 doeth 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 doeth 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 the LORD.
I will not be killed [in battle]; I will live to proclaim the great things that Yahweh has done.
18 The LORD hath chastened me sore; but He hath not given me over unto 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 unto 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 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 unto Thee, for Thou hast answered me, and art 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 is become the chief corner-stone.
[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 which the LORD hath 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 We beseech Thee, O LORD, save now! We beseech Thee, O LORD, make us now to prosper!
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 that cometh in the name of the LORD; we bless you out of 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 hath given us light; order the festival procession with boughs, even unto 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 art my God, and I will give thanks unto Thee; Thou art 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 unto the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever.
Thank Yahweh, because he does good things [for us] He will faithfully love [us] forever.
