Psalms 118:17

17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

Psalms 118:17 in Other Translations

KJV
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
ESV
17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
NLT
17 I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the LORD has done.
MSG
17 I didn't die. I lived! And now I'm telling the world what God did.
CSB
17 I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the Lord has done.

Psalms 118:17 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 118:17

I shall not die, but live
Not that he should never die, David knew he should; but that his present afflictions would not issue in death; or he should not die by the hands of his enemies, he sometimes feared he should; but now believed he should live, as he did, to a good old age: he knew he should live spiritually and eternally, and not die a second death; and so may all true believers and members of Christ say. Yea, these words may be considered as the words of Christ; who, though he came into the world to die, and did die for the sins of his people; yet he knew he should not die before his time, nor should he continue long under the power of death; but should live again, and live for evermore, and not die; death should have no more dominion over him; see ( Psalms 16:10 ) ( Romans 6:9 ) ;

and declare the works of the Lord;
the wonderful appearances of God in a providential way, and all his marvellous works of grace; as David did, and as all the people of God more or less do; and which is the end of their living; not to eat and drink, and gratify their carnal senses, but to glorify God, by declaring what he has done for themselves and others. So the Messiah declared the name of God, his nature, perfections, mind and will, word and works, among his brethren in the great congregation, ( Psalms 22:22 ) .

Psalms 118:17 In-Context

15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
18 The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Psalms 6:5; Habakkuk 1:12
  • 2. Exodus 15:6; S Deuteronomy 32:3; Psalms 64:9; Psalms 71:16; Psalms 73:28
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