< Psalms 118 >
1 Give thanks to YHWH, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures 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 endures 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 endures forever.
You [priests] who are descendants of Aaron should repeatedly shout, “He faithfully loves us, his people, forever!”
4 Now let those who fear YHWH say that his loving kindness endures forever.
All you who revere him should repeatedly shout, “He faithfully loves [us, his people], forever!”
5 Out of my distress, I called on JAH. JAH answered me with freedom.
When I was distressed, I called out to Yahweh, and he answered me and set me free [from my worries/troubles].
6 YHWH is my helper; I will not fear. What can humans 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 YHWH is my helper; and I will look in triumph on 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 YHWH, 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 YHWH, than to put confidence in princes.
It is better to trust Yahweh to protect [us] than to trust [that influential/important] people [will protect us].
10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of YHWH, I cut them off.
Armies of [MTY] many nations surrounded me, [but] Yahweh enabled me to defeat them by his power [MTY].
11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. In the name of YHWH I indeed cut them off.
They completely surrounded me, [but] I defeated them all by the power of Yahweh.
12 They surrounded me like bees. They blazed like a fire among thorns. In the name of YHWH I 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 I was pushed hard, to make me fall, but YHWH helped me.
[My enemies] attacked me fiercely and almost defeated me, but Yahweh helped me.
14 JAH is my strength and my 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 YHWH 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 YHWH is exalted. The right hand of YHWH does valiantly."
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 live, and declare the works of JAH.
I will not be killed [in battle]; I will live to proclaim the great things that Yahweh has done.
18 JAH has punished me severely, 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 and praise JAH.
[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 YHWH; the righteous will 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 you, for you 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 cornerstone.
[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 YHWH'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 that YHWH 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 us now, we beg you, YHWH. YHWH, we beg you, send prosperity now.
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 comes in the name of YHWH. We have blessed you out of the house of YHWH.
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 YHWH 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 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you. You are my God, I will exalt you.
[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 Oh give thanks to YHWH, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
Thank Yahweh, because he does good things [for us] He will faithfully love [us] forever.