Psalm 118 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Psalm 118
"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good"
A Bible open to Psalm 118
Other name	Psalm 117 (Vulgate) "Confitemini Domino"
Language	Hebrew (original)

Psalm 118 is the 118th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in the English of 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 slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 117. In Latin, it is known as "Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius". Its themes are thanksgiving to God and reliance on God rather than on human strength.

The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies.

Text

Hebrew Bible version

Psalm 118 in the 11Q5 Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript

Following is the Hebrew text of Psalm 118:

King James Version

Facade of Jerusalem Synagogue with Psalm 118:20 in Hebrew, Prague, Czech Republic

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

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 the last 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 large place.

Instead of "a large place" or "a broad place", many translations state the LORD "set me free".

Verse 14

The Lord is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation.

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

Verse 22

The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone.

Verse 23

This was the Lord’s doing;

It is marvelous in our eyes.

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 on the days of recitation of the hallel. The last ten verses are even read twice.

• 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.
• Verse 1 is recited by some following Psalm 126 preceding Birkat Hamazon.
• Verse 5 is recited prior to the Shofar blowing on Rosh Hashanah.
• Verses 5-9 are part of Tashlikh.
• 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.
• Verse 27 is the source to the name isru chag.

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.

• Verse 6 is quoted in Hebrews KJV
• Verses 22-23 are quoted in Matthew 21:42. Jesus said to them (the chief priests and the elders of the people), "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" Opposition and difficulties are seen in this Psalm but in the midst of it God will display His salvation. This verse is also referred to in Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, and 1 Peter 2:4,7.
• In Matthew 21:9, KJV; Mark 11:9-10; Luke 13:35, KJV; and John 12:13, Jesus is welcomed on his triumphal entry into Jerusalem by crowds quoting verses 25-26:

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

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).

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.

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. The gradual for Easter is based on verse 24, Haec dies quam fecit Dominus. As a result, many compositions are based on this textual fragment.

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.

Music

The hymn in German "Nun saget Dank und lobt den Herren" is a paraphrase of Psalm 118. It has been set to music by various composers.