Psalm 118

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". 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.

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.

Uses

New Testament

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

Verse 6 is quoted in Hebrews
Verses 22-23 are quoted in Matthew. Jesus said to them, "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.
In the Gospels, Jesus is welcomed on his triumphal entry into Jerusalem by crowds quoting verses 25-26:
Judaism

Psalm 118 is the last of the so-called Egyptian Hallel. It is read on the days of recitation of the hallel.

It is one of six psalms 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.
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.
Catholic Church

This text was chosen by Saint Benedict of Nursia towards 530, as the third psalm for the solemn office of Sunday Lauds.
Psalm 118 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 Eastertide, and is typically sung at the Easter Vigil and 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.

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the twenty-fourth day of the month, as well as at Evensong on Easter Day.

Coptic Orthodox Church

In the Agpeya, the Coptic Church's book of hours, this psalm is prayed in the office of Vespers and the first watch of the Midnight office.

Musical settings

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.
Heinrich Schütz composed a metred paraphrase of the psalm in German, "Laßt uns Gott, unserm Herren", SWV 216, for the Becker Psalter, published first in 1628.
The beginning of the psalm was set by Goran Trajkoski for a production, Eternal House, at the Macedonian National Theatre.
The 22nd line of the Psalm is referenced in the opening theme to The Boondocks by the artist Asheru where the singer proclaims "I am the stone that the builder refused" in the very first line.
The hymn, „Ihmadou al-rab ” is written in Arabic to this psalm.

Text

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 117.

#	Hebrew	English	Greek
1		O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.	᾿Αλληλούϊα. - ΕΞΟΜΟΛΟΓΕΙΣΘΕ τῷ Κυρίῳ, ὅτι ἀγαθός, ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ.
2		Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.	εἰπάτω δὴ οἶκος ᾿Ισραὴλ ὅτι ἀγαθός, ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ·
3		Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.	εἰπάτω δὴ οἶκος ᾿Ααρὼν ὅτι ἀγαθός, ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ·
4		Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.	εἰπάτωσαν δὴ πάντες οἱ φοβούμενοι τὸν Κύριον ὅτι ἀγαθός, ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ.
5		I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.	ἐκ θλίψεως ἐπεκαλεσάμην τὸν Κύριον, καὶ ἐπήκουσέ μου εἰς πλατυσμόν.
6		The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?	Κύριος ἐμοὶ βοηθός, καὶ οὐ φοβηθήσομαι τί ποιήσει μοι ἄνθρωπος.
7		The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.	Κύριος ἐμοὶ βοηθός, κἀγὼ ἐπόψομαι τοὺς ἐχθρούς μου.
8		It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.	ἀγαθὸν πεποιθέναι ἐπὶ Κύριον ἢ πεποιθέναι ἐπ᾿ ἄνθρωπον·
9		It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.	ἀγαθὸν ἐλπίζειν ἐπὶ Κύριον ἢ ἐλπίζειν ἐπ᾿ ἄρχουσι.
10		All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.	πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐκύκλωσάν με, καὶ τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου ἠμυνάμην αὐτούς·
11		They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.	κυκλώσαντες ἐκύκλωσάν με, καὶ τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου ἠμυνάμην αὐτούς.
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.	ἐκύκλωσάν με ὡσεὶ μέλισσαι κηρίον καὶ ἐξεκαύθησαν ὡς πῦρ ἐν ἀκάνθαις, καὶ τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου ἠμυνάμην αὐτούς.
13		Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.	ὠσθεὶς ἀνετράπην τοῦ πεσεῖν, καὶ ὁ Κύριος ἀντελάβετό μου.
14		The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.	ἰσχύς μου καὶ ὕμνησίς μου ὁ Κύριος καὶ ἐγένετό μοι εἰς σωτηρίαν.
15		The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.	φωνὴ ἀγαλλιάσεως καὶ σωτηρίας ἐν σκηναῖς δικαίων· δεξιὰ Κυρίου ἐποίησε δύναμιν,
16		The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.	δεξιὰ Κυρίου ὕψωσέ με, δεξιὰ Κυρίου ἐποίησε δύναμιν.
17		I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.	οὐκ ἀποθανοῦμαι, ἀλλὰ ζήσομαι καὶ διηγήσομαι τὰ ἔργα Κυρίου.
18		The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.	παιδεύων ἐπαίδευσέ με ὁ Κύριος καὶ τῷ θανάτῳ οὐ παρέδωκέ με.
19		Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:	ἀνοίξατέ μοι πύλας δικαιοσύνης· εἰσελθὼν ἐν αὐταῖς ἐξομολογήσομαι τῷ Κυρίῳ.
20		This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.	αὕτη ἡ πύλη τοῦ Κυρίου, δίκαιοι εἰσελεύσονται ἐν αὐτῇ.
21		I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.	ἐξομολογήσομαί σοι, ὅτι ἐπήκουσάς μου καὶ ἐγένου μοι εἰς σωτηρίαν.
22		The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.	λίθον, ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας·
23		This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.	παρὰ Κυρίου ἐγένετο αὕτη καὶ ἔστι θαυμαστὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν.
24		This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.	αὕτη ἡ ἡμέρα, ἣν ἐποίησεν ὁ Κύριος· ἀγαλλιασώμεθα καὶ εὐφρανθῶμεν ἐν αὐτῇ.
25		Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.	ὦ Κύριε, σῶσον δή, ὦ Κύριε, εὐόδωσον δή.
26		Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.	εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου· εὐλογήκαμεν ὑμᾶς ἐξ οἴκου Κυρίου.
27		God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.	Θεὸς Κύριος καὶ ἐπέφανεν ἡμῖν· συστήσασθε ἑορτὴν ἐν τοῖς πυκάζουσιν ἕως τῶν κεράτων τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου.
28		Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.	Θεός μου εἶ σύ, καὶ ἐξομολογήσομαί σοι· Θεός μου εἶ σύ, καὶ ὑψώσω σε· ἐξομολογήσομαί σοι, ὅτι ἐπήκουσάς μου καὶ ἐγένου μοι εἰς σωτηρίαν.
29		O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.	ἐξομολογεῖσθε τῷ Κυρίῳ, ὅτι ἀγαθός, ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ.