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.
118:8 It is better to take shelter 11 in the Lord
than to trust in people.
118:9 It is better to take shelter in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
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.
11 tn “Taking shelter” in the