Psalms 118:16-26

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;)

Psalms 118:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

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.