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.

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

King James Version

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.

Notable verses

Verse 5

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

Verse 14

These words are paralleled in the Song of Moses and are used by the prophet Isaiah. Most translations have translated zimrah as "song", its usual meaning. However, the Greek Septuagint translation of the parallel passage of Exodus 15:2 merely translated it as The Lord being "my protector", making no reference to song. Further, inscriptions in Ancient South Arabian, a dialect cognate of Biblical Hebrew, seem to sometimes use zimrah to mean "might" or "power", suggesting an alternative translation as "The Lord is my strength and might".

Verse 22

Verse 23

Uses

Judaism

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

New Testament

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

Catholic Church

This text was chosen by Saint Benedict of Nursia towards 530, as the third psalm for the solemn office of Sunday Lauds (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 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.

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.