Psalms 118 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
Probably composed for temple use after the exile, though it may preserve older royal material
Location
Jerusalem, staged as a procession approaching and entering the temple gates
Audience
Pilgrims arriving for a festival, with priests answering from inside the gates
Situation
A thanksgiving liturgy that moves from a personal account of being surrounded and rescued to a request to open the gates of righteousness. The stone rejected by the builders becoming the cornerstone gives the psalm its most quoted line.
Key Background
The back and forth structure fits a procession stopping outside the temple gates, with the group asking to be let in and priests inside responding about who may enter, a pattern used at several ancient sanctuaries. The rejected stone image comes from building sites where masons set aside stones that looked unsuitable, and the cornerstone was the block that set the alignment for the whole structure. This is the last of the Passover Hallel psalms, meaning it was almost certainly the final song sung at the Last Supper before Jesus and his disciples went out to the Mount of Olives.
Yahweh — he is good. His never runs out.
Let say it: "His faithful love never runs out."
Let the of say it: "His faithful love never runs out."
Let everyone who Yahweh say it: "His faithful love never runs out."
When I was in, I called out to Yahweh — and Yahweh answered by setting me free in
Yahweh is with me — I will not be afraid. What can any human do to me?
Yahweh is with me as my — I will look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to in Yahweh than to trust in any human.
It is better to take refuge in Yahweh than to trust in
Every surrounded me — but in the name of Yahweh, I them down.
They surrounded me, closed in from every side — but in the name of Yahweh, I cut them down.
They me bees, but they out a in — in the name of Yahweh, I cut them down.
I was about to fall — but Yahweh helped me.
Yahweh is my and my — he has become my
Listen — shouts of joy and victory ring out from the tents of the just: "Yahweh's strikes with power!"
Yahweh's right hand is high! Yahweh's right hand strikes with power!
I will not die — I will live, and I will what Yahweh has done.
Yahweh me — but he did not hand me over to death.
Throw open the of what is for me — I will go through them and thank Yahweh.
This is the that to — the may enter through it.
I thank you because you answered me — you became my
The the builders rejected has become the
This is Yahweh's doing — it is in our eyes.
This is the day Yahweh has — let us and be glad in it.
Please, Yahweh — rescue us! Please, Yahweh — make us
is for the who in the of Yahweh. We speak this over you from the of
Yahweh is God, and he has given us light. Bind the with ropes all the way to the of the
You are my God, and I will thank you. You are my God, and I will you
Thank Yahweh — he is good. His never runs out.