Psalms 118

1 Alleluia. Acknowledge ye to the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy is without end. (Alleluia. Give ye thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his love is forever.)

2 Israel say now, for he is good; for his mercy is without end (for his love is forever).

3 The house of Aaron say now; for his mercy is without end (for his love is forever).

4 They that dread the Lord, say now; for his mercy is without end. (They who fear the Lord/They who revere the Lord, say now; for his love is forever.)

5 (Out) Of tribulation I inwardly called the Lord; and the Lord heard me in largeness. (In my trouble I called to the Lord; and the Lord answered me, and set me free.)

6 The Lord is an helper to me; I shall not dread what man shall do to me. (The Lord is my helper; I shall not fear what people shall do to me.)

7 The Lord is an helper to me; and I shall despise mine enemies. (The Lord is my helper; and I shall gloat over my enemies/and I shall see my enemies defeated.)

8 It is better to trust in the Lord; than for to trust in man. (It is better to trust in the Lord; than to trust in any person.)

9 It is better for to hope in the Lord; than to hope in princes. (It is better to trust in the Lord; than to trust in our rulers.)

10 All folks (en)compassed me; and in the name of the Lord it befelled, for I am avenged on them. (All the nations surrounded me; but in the name of the Lord, I shall be avenged upon them/I shall destroy them.)

11 They compassing (en)compassed me; and in the name of the Lord, for I am avenged on them. (They surrounded me on every side; but in the name of the Lord, I shall be avenged upon them/I shall destroy them.)

12 They (en)compassed me as bees, and they burnt out as fire among thorns; and in the name of the Lord, for I am avenged on them. (They surrounded me like bees, but they burned out quickly, like a fire among the thorns; for in the name of the Lord, I shall be avenged upon them/I shall destroy them.)

13 I was hurled, and turned upside-down, that I should fall down; and the Lord took me up (but the Lord helped me up).

14 The Lord is my strength, and my praising; and he is made to me into health (and he is my salvation, or my deliverance/and he hath saved me).

15 The voice of full out joying and of health; be in the tabernacles of just men. The right hand of the Lord hath done virtue, (The voice of rejoicing and of victory, be in the tents, or the camp, of the righteous. The right hand of the Lord hath done mightily,)

16 the right hand of the Lord enhanced me; the right hand of the Lord hath done virtue. (the right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord hath done mightily.)

17 I shall not die, but I shall live; and I shall tell (out) the works of the Lord.

18 The Lord chastising hath chastised me; and he gave not me to death. (Yea, the Lord hath punished me; but he did not give me over to death.)

19 Open ye to me the gates of rightfulness, and I shall enter by those, and I shall acknowledge to the Lord; (Open ye for me the gates of righteousness, or of victory, and I shall enter in by them, and I shall praise the Lord/and I shall give thanks to the Lord;)

20 this gate is of the Lord, and just men shall enter by it. (this is the gate of the Lord, and the righteous shall enter by it.)

21 I shall acknowledge to thee, for thou heardest me; and art made to me into health. (I shall praise thee, for thou hast answered me; and thou hast given me the victory/and thou art my salvation, or my deliverance/and thou hast saved me.)

22 The stone which the builders reproved; this is made into the head (stone) of the corner. (The stone which the builders rejected; it is made into the chief cornerstone.)

23 This thing is made of the Lord; and it is wonderful before our eyes. (This thing was done by the Lord; and it is wonderful to behold.)

24 This is the day which the Lord made; make we full out joy, and be we glad therein. (This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice, and be glad in it.)

25 O! Lord, make thou me safe, O! Lord, make thou well prosperity; (O Lord, save thou us! O Lord, send us prosperity now!)

26 blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. We blessed you of the house of the Lord; (blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the House of the Lord;)

27 God is Lord, and he hath given light to us. Ordain ye a solemn day in thick peoples; till to the horn(s) of the altar. (God is the Lord/The Lord is God, and he hath given light to us. On the feast day, ordain ye a line of pilgrims, around the corners, or the horns, of the altar.)

28 Thou art my God, and I shall acknowledge to thee; thou art my God, and I shall enhance thee. I shall acknowledge to thee, for thou heardest me; and thou art made to me into health. (Thou art my God, and I shall praise thee/and I shall give thanks to thee; thou art my God, and I shall exalt thee. I shall praise thee, for thou hast answered me; and thou hast given me the victory/and thou art my salvation, or my deliverance/and thou hast saved me.)

29 Acknowledge ye to the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy is without end. (Give ye thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his love is forever.)

Psalms 118 Commentary

Chapter 118

It is good to trust in the Lord. (1-18) The coming of Christ in his kingdom. (19-29)

Verses 1-18 The account the psalmist here gives of his troubles is very applicable to Christ: many hated him without a cause; nay, the Lord himself chastened him sorely, bruised him, and put him to grief, that by his stripes we might be healed. God is sometimes the strength of his people, when he is not their song; they have spiritual supports, though they want spiritual delights. Whether the believer traces back his comfort to the everlasting goodness and mercy of God, or whether he looks forward to the blessing secured to him, he will find abundant cause for joy and praise. Every answer to our prayers is an evidence that the Lord is on our side; and then we need not fear what man can do unto us; we should conscientiously do our duty to all, and trust in him alone to accept and bless us. Let us seek to live to declare the works of God, and to encourage others to serve him and trust in him. Such were the triumphs of the Son of David, in the assurance that the good pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand.

Verses 19-29 Those who saw Christ's day at so great a distance, saw cause to praise God for the prospect. The prophecy, ver. ( psalms 118:22-23 ) Christ. 1. His humiliation; he is the Stone which the builders refused: they would go on in their building without him. This proved the ruin of those who thus made light of him. Rejecters of Christ are rejected of God. 2. His exaltation; he is the chief Cornerstone in the foundation. He is the chief Top-stone, in whom the building is completed, who must, in all things, have the pre-eminence. Christ's name is Wonderful; and the redemption he wrought out is the most amazing of all God's wondrous works. We will rejoice and be glad in the Lord's day; not only that such a day is appointed, but in the occasion of it, Christ's becoming the Head. Sabbath days ought to be rejoicing days, then they are to us as the days of heaven. Let this Saviour be my Saviour, my Ruler. Let my soul prosper and be in health, in that peace and righteousness which his government brings. Let me have victory over the lusts that war against my soul; and let Divine grace subdue my heart. The duty which the Lord has made, brings light with it, true light. The duty this privilege calls for, is here set forth; the sacrifices we are to offer to God in gratitude for redeeming love, are ourselves; not to be slain upon the altar, but living sacrifices, to be bound to the altar; spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise, in which our hearts must be engaged. The psalmist praises God, and calls upon all about him to give thanks to God for the glad tidings of great joy to all people, that there is a Redeemer, even Christ the Lord. In him the covenant of grace is made sure and everlasting.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 118

Kimchi says their Rabbins are divided about this psalm. Some understand it of David; others of the Messiah: but, with us Christians, there ought to be no doubt of its belonging to the Messiah; since our Lord has quoted a passage out of it, and applied it to himself, Ps 118:22,23; see Mt 21:42; and so has the Apostle Peter, Ac 4:11. Nor did the Jews of those times object thereunto, which doubtless they would have done, had the psalm respected any other but the Messiah; yea, the common people that attended Christ when he entered into Jerusalem, and the children in the temple, took their "hosanna" from hence, Ps 118:26; see Mt 21:9,15. It is generally thought to be written by David, after he was established in the kingdom, and had brought the ark of the Lord into the city. It concludes the great "Hallel", or hymn sung at the Jewish festivals; particularly at the feasts of tabernacle and the passover.