Psalms  ◦   Chapter 118

1Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love is perpetual and everlasting.

2Let those who overcome in union with God, say:
"His love is perpetual and everlasting."

3Let the whole priesthood of believers say:
"His love is perpetual and everlasting."

4Let those who revere the Lord say:
"His love is perpetual and everlasting."

5In my distress I called out to the Lord,
and he responded by setting me free.

6The Lord is for me; I will not live in fear.
What can human beings do to me?

7The Lord is for me; he is my helper —
he shows me who my true enemies are.

8It is better to trust in the Lord
than to rely on people.

9It is better to trust in the Lord
than to rely on world leaders.

10The selfish world presses in around me,
but by God’s power of love and truth I am cut free of them.

11They surround me on every side,
but by God’s power of love and truth I am cut free of them.

12They swarm around me like bees,
but their lives are quickly expended like burning thorns;
by God’s power of love and truth I am cut free of them.

13They pushed so hard against me that I was about to fall,
but the Lord helped me.

14The Lord is my strength — my source of life — O how I sing for joy;
he has healed me.

15Songs of joy and deliverance
resound in the homes of those who are healed — restored to God’s design for life;
The Lord’s Remedy — his Right Hand — has achieved the victory!

16The Lord’s Remedy — his Right Hand — overcomes;
the Lord’s Remedy — his Right Hand — produces perfect character!

17I will not die; I will continue to live
and tell what the Lord has done.

18The Lord’s discipline was painful but therapeutic;
he has healed me, saving me from death.

19Open for me the gate to perfect restoration to God’s design for life,
and I will gladly go in and give all honor and thanks to the Lord.

20This gate is the Lord,
through whom the healed enter.

21I give you thanks for answering me;
you are my Remedy — my salvation.

22The stone rejected by the builders
has become the foundation stone of life itself;

23God has made sure it would be this way,
and it is incredible to us.

24This is the day of victory, that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25Now Lord, save us now!
Now Lord, heal us completely!

26Blessed is the One who comes with the character of God!
From the house of the Lord we bless you.

27The Lord is Creator God;
he shines the light of heavenly truth upon us.
Weave his healing remedy into your life, bind it to your heart,
to cleanse the horns of selfishness infecting the altar of your soul.

28You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will proclaim your character and methods.

29Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love is perpetual and everlasting.