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Psalm 118

A Song of Victory

1

O give thanks to the L ord, 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 L ord say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

 

5

Out of my distress I called on the L ord;

the L ord answered me and set me in a broad place.

6

With the L ord on my side I do not fear.

What can mortals do to me?

7

The L ord 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 L ord

than to put confidence in mortals.

9

It is better to take refuge in the L ord

than to put confidence in princes.

 

10

All nations surrounded me;

in the name of the L ord I cut them off!

11

They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;

in the name of the L ord I cut them off!

12

They surrounded me like bees;

they blazed like a fire of thorns;

in the name of the L ord I cut them off!

13

I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,

but the L ord helped me.

14

The L ord 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 L ord does valiantly;

16

the right hand of the L ord is exalted;

the right hand of the L ord does valiantly.”

17

I shall not die, but I shall live,

and recount the deeds of the L ord.

18

The L ord 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 L ord.

 

20

This is the gate of the L ord;

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 L ord’s doing;

it is marvelous in our eyes.

24

This is the day that the L ord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25

Save us, we beseech you, O L ord!

O L ord, we beseech you, give us success!

 

26

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the L ord.

We bless you from the house of the L ord.

27

The L ord is God,

and he has given us light.

Bind the festal procession with branches,

up to the horns of the altar.

 

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 L ord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever.


This, says he, is the doing of Jehovah “Go and quarrel with God, all ye that strenuously endeavor to eject me from my throne, to which I have not been elevated accidentally, or by human policy, but by the manifest power of God.” This he confirms by all being constrained to wonder at what had occurred as a thing incredible. Now, when God doeth marvellously, and in a manner that surpasses our comprehension, his power cannot fail to be so much the more apparent unto us. Should any prefer to interpret it thus:-Although this work may fill men with astonishment, yet that is no reason for rejecting it; he may do so. To me, however, it certainly appears more probable that David employs the term wonderful, that the haughtiness of man may submit to God, and that none may presume to breathe a whisper against him. The fitness of these things being applied to Christ will be more properly discussed when I come to consider the twenty-fifth verse.


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