Psalms 118:9-19

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;)

Psalms 118:9-19 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.