Psalms 117 Footnotes

Ps 117 This, the shortest chapter in the Bible, is a complete hymn of praise. It includes the invitation for all people—not just Israel—to celebrate the Lord. It also gives the reason for praise: the Lord has been faithful to his covenant with his people (“faithful love” translates Hb hesed, loyalty based on a covenant relationship). Finally, it speaks of his enduring “faithfulness” (Hb ’emunah, “truth” in the sense of reliability, the root of the English word “amen”). All of this is bracketed between the cries of praise, “Hallelujah!”