Psalms 118:1-7

Context

Psalm 118¹

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 family³ of Aaron say,

“Yes, his loyal love endures!”

118:4 Let the loyal followers of the Lord⁴ say,

“Yes, his loyal love endures!”

118:5 In my distress⁵ 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 side⁹ as my helper.¹⁰

I look in triumph on those who hate me.

[118:1] ¹sn Psalm 118. The psalmist thanks God for his deliverance and urges others to join him in praise.

[118:1] ²tn Or “is forever.”

[118:3] ³tn Heb “house.”

[118:4] ⁴tn Heb “fearers of the Lord.” See Ps 15:4.

[118:5] ⁵tn 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”).

[118:5] ⁶tn Heb “the Lord answered me in a wide open place.”

[118:6] ⁷tn Heb “for me.”

[118:6] ⁸tn The rhetorical question assumes the answer, “Nothing!” The imperfect is used in a modal sense here, indicating capability or potential. See Ps 56:11.

[118:7] ⁹tn Heb “for me.”

[118:7] ¹⁰tn Heb “among my helpers.” The preposition may indicate identity here, while the plural may be one of majesty or respect.