118:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
and his loyal love endures! 2
118:2 Let Israel say,
“Yes, his loyal love endures!”
118:3 Let the family 3 of Aaron say,
“Yes, his loyal love endures!”
118:4 Let the loyal followers of the Lord 4 say,
“Yes, his loyal love endures!”
118:5 In my distress 5 I cried out to the Lord.
The Lord answered me and put me in a wide open place. 6
118:6 The Lord is on my side, 7 I am not afraid!
What can people do to me? 8
118:7 The Lord is on my side 9 as my helper. 10
I look in triumph on those who hate me.
1 sn Psalm 118. The psalmist thanks God for his deliverance and urges others to join him in praise.
2 tn Or “is forever.”
3 tn Heb “house.”
4 tn Heb “fearers of the
5 tn Heb “from the distress.” The noun מֵצַר (metsar, “straits; distress”) occurs only here and in Lam 1:3. In Ps 116:3 מצר should probably be emended to מְצָדֵי (mÿtsadey, “snares of”).
6 tn Heb “the
7 tn Heb “for me.”
8 tn The rhetorical question assumes the answer, “Nothing!” The imperfect is used in a modal sense here, indicating capability or potential. See Ps 56:11.
9 tn Heb “for me.”
10 tn Heb “among my helpers.” The preposition may indicate identity here, while the plural may be one of majesty or respect.