Psalm 118

Psalm 118 is the 118th psalm of the Book of Psalms, generally known in English by its first verse, in the King James Version, "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever." The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation in the Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 117 in a slightly different numbering system. In Latin, it is known as "Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius".[1] Its themes are thanksgiving to God and reliance on God rather than on human strength.

This article uses Hebrew (Masoretic) psalm numbering. Psalm 118 in Greek (Septuagint or Vulgate) numbering corresponds to Psalm 119 in Hebrew numbering.
Psalm 118
Scroll of the Psalms
BookBook of Psalms
Hebrew Bible partKetuvim
Order in the Hebrew part1
CategorySifrei Emet
Christian Bible partOld Testament
Order in the Christian part19

The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Anglican and Protestant liturgies.

Text

King James Version
  1. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
  2. Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
  3. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
  4. Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
  5. I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
  6. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
  7. The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
  8. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
  9. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
  10. All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
  11. They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
  12. They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
  13. Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
  14. The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
  15. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
  16. The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
  17. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
  18. The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
  19. Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
  20. This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
  21. I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
  22. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
  23. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
  24. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
  25. Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
  26. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
  27. God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
  28. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
  29. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Theme and structure
Skeppsbron 6, Stockholm, inscription

This psalm is centered on God, in a movement that expresses gratitude, admiration, joy and praise. In the King James Version, the Lord is mentioned in almost every verse. The psalm is one of the so-called Egyptian Hallel.

Notable verses

Verse 5
I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.[2]

Verse 14
The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.[3]

These words are parallelled in the Song of Moses (Exodus 15:2) and are used by the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 12:2.[4]

Verse 22
The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.[5]

Verse 23
This was the Lord’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.[6]

Uses

Judaism
The Tosher Rebbe of Montreal, Quebec, Canada shaking the Four species during Sukkot while praying Hallel.

This psalm 118 is the last in the series of the Egyptian hallel. It is read in full on the days of recitation of the hallel. The last ten verses are even read twice.[7]

  • Is one of six psalms (113-118) of which Hallel is composed. On all days when Hallel is recited, this psalm is recited in its entirety, with the final ten verses being recited twice each.[8]
  • Verse 1 is recited by some following Psalm 126 preceding Birkat Hamazon.[9]
  • Verse 5 is recited prior to the Shofar blowing on Rosh Hashanah.[10]
  • Verses 5-9 are part of Tashlikh.[11]
  • Verse 24 may be a source of the Israeli song Hava Nagila.
  • Verse 25 is part of the long Tachanun recited on Mondays and Thursdays.[12]

New Testament
Psalm 118:23 quoted on an English Sovereign: A DNO' FACTU' EST ISTUD ET EST MIRAB' IN OCULIS NRS

Parts of this Psalm were quoted by Jesus and writers of the New Testament.

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"[14][15]

Catholic Church

This psalm was chosen by St Benedict towards 530, as the third psalm during the solemn office of the Sunday laudes (Rule of Saint Benedict, chapter XI10).[16]

Psalm 118 (117) is now read in the liturgy of the Hours every Sunday of the first and third weeks, at the office of Sext.[17]

Anglicanism

An extract from verse 23 is inscribed on several English coins, with the text of the Vulgate: a Domino factum est istud hoc est mirabile in oculis nostris. Upon her accession to the throne, Elizabeth I of England is said to have pronounced this same verse, also in Latin, as quoted in the New Testament: A Domino factum est illud et est mirabile in oculis nostris.[18]

Verses 8 and 9 are notable as the centre verses of the Protestant Bible (e.g. King James Bible).

Music

Psalm 118 (117) was set to music by various composers including the motet of Lobet den Herrn, and alle Heiden (BWV 230) by Johann Sebastian Bach.

References
  1. Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 117 (118) Archived 2017-05-07 at the Wayback Machine medievalist.net
  2. Psalm 118:5
  3. Psalm 118:14 NKJV
  4. Keil and Delitzsch OT Commentary, Isaiah 12, accessed 23 March 2018
  5. Psalm 118:22
  6. Psalm 118:23
  7. D’après le Complete ArtScroll Siddur, compilation des prières juives, p. 638-640.
  8. The Complete Artscroll Siddur page 638-40
  9. The Complete Artscroll Siddur page 183
  10. The Complete Artscroll Machzor for Rosh Hashanah page 435
  11. The Complete Artscroll Siddur page 771.
  12. The Complete Artscroll Siddur page 131
  13. Kirkpatrick, A. F. (1901). The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Book IV and V: Psalms XC-CL. Cambridge: At the University Press. p. 840. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  14. D’après le Complete ArtScroll Siddur, compilation des prières juives, p. 131.
  15. John Calvin, Commentaire des psaumes, 1557.
  16. Prosper Guéranger, Traduction par Dom (Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression 2007) p.40.
  17. The main cycle of liturgical prayers takes place over four weeks. Psalm 118 is also closely associated with Easter in the Catholic Church, and it is typically sung at the Easter Vigil and the morning Mass on Easter Sunday. Many different versions of this Psalm have been composed for Catholic liturgy, including "This Is the Day" by Michael Joncas, and "Let Us Rejoice" by Marty Haugen. Psalm 118 is also a popular Psalm for weddings and First Communions.
  18. « On This Day: Elizabeth I Becomes Queen of England, 10 November 2010
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