Psalm 118

A Song of Victory

1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his steadfast love endures forever!*

2 Let Israel say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”*

3 Let the house of Aaron say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

4 Let those who fear the Lord say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;

the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.*

6 With the Lord on my side I do not fear.

What can mortals do to me?*

7 The Lord is on my side to help me;

I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.*

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to put confidence in mortals.*

9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to put confidence in princes.*

10 All nations surrounded me;

in the name of the Lord I cut them off!*

11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;

in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

12 They surrounded me like bees;

they blazedf like a fire of thorns;

in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

13 I was pushed hard,g so that I was falling,

but the Lord helped me.*

14 The Lord is my strength and my might;

he has become my salvation.*

15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:

“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;*

16 the right hand of the Lord is exalted;

the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.”*

17 I shall not die, but I shall live

and recount the deeds of the Lord.*

18 The Lord has punished me severely,

but he did not give me over to death.*

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,

that I may enter through them

and give thanks to the Lord.*

20 This is the gate of the Lord;

the righteous shall enter through it.*

21 I thank you that you have answered me

and have become my salvation.*

22 The stone that the builders rejected

has become the chief cornerstone.*

23 This is the Lord’s doing;

it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day that the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.h

25 Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!

O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!

26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.i

We bless you from the house of the Lord.*

27 The Lord is God,

and he has given us light.

Bind the festal procession with branches,

up to the horns of the altar.j,*

28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;

you are my God; I will extol you.*

29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever.*