Psalms 118
1 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his covenant faithfulness 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 say, “His covenant faithfulness endures forever.”
You Israeli [people] should [repeatedly] shout, “He faithfully loves [us, his people], forever!”
3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His covenant faithfulness endures forever.”
You [priests] who are descendants of Aaron should repeatedly shout, “He faithfully loves us, his people, forever!”
4 Let the loyal followers of Yahweh say, “His covenant faithfulness endures for ever.”
All you who revere him should repeatedly shout, “He faithfully loves [us, his people], forever!”
5 In my distress I called out to Yahweh; Yahweh answered me and set me free.
When I was distressed, I called out to Yahweh, and he answered me and set me free [from my worries/troubles].
6 Yahweh is with me; I will not be afraid; what can man 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 Yahweh is on my side as my helper; 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 shelter in Yahweh 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 Yahweh than to put one's trust in a 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; in Yahweh's name 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 Yahweh's name I cut them off.
They completely surrounded me, [but] I defeated them all by the power of Yahweh.
12 They surrounded me like bees; they disappeared as quickly as fire among thorns; in Yahweh's name 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 They attacked me to knock me down, but Yahweh helped me.
[My enemies] attacked me fiercely and almost defeated me, but Yahweh helped me.
14 Yahweh is my strength and joy, and he is the one who rescues me.
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 joyful shout of victory is heard in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of Yahweh conquers.
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 Yahweh is exalted; the right hand of Yahweh conquers.
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 deeds of Yahweh.
I will not be killed [in battle]; I will live to proclaim the great things that Yahweh has done.
18 Yahweh has punished me harshly; but he has not handed 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 them and I will give thanks to Yahweh.
[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 Yahweh; the righteous enter 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 thanks to you, for you answered 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 that 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 Yahweh'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 on which Yahweh has acted; 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 Please, Yahweh, give us victory! Please, Yahweh, give us success!
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 Yahweh; we bless you from the house of Yahweh.
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 Yahweh is God, and he has given us light; bind the sacrifice with cords 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 Yahweh; for he is good; for his covenant faithfulness endures forever.
Thank Yahweh, because he does good things [for us] He will faithfully love [us] forever.
