BOOK 19 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Psalms 118

Psalms book home•Chapter 118 of 150•29 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Psalms 118 Overview

The worshipper celebrates God's enduring mercy, remembers distress and hostile nations, enters gates of righteousness, praises the rejected stone become head of the corner, and welcomes one coming in the LORD's name.

PsalmsBook

118Chapter

29Verses

PoetryDivision

Before you read Psalms 118

Coming from

Psalm 117 centered on all nations summoned to praise the lord. Psalms is an anthology rather than a continuous chronological story, so the connection here is canonical and thematic.

In this chapter

Leads into

Psalm 119 turns to a vast acrostic meditation on god's word in every circumstance, continuing the Psalter’s arranged movement without requiring that the two psalms describe consecutive historical events.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Psalm 118 belongs to Book V of the Psalter (Psalms 107–150). The New Testament repeatedly applies the stone and “Blessed is he that cometh” language to Jesus Christ.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

Thanksgiving for steadfast mercy and the rejected stone made central.

Thanksgiving truth

In Psalm 118, remembered deliverance should become explicit thanksgiving rather than private relief only.

Messianic truth

In Psalm 118, later Scripture shows that the royal or suffering language here reaches its fullest significance in Jesus Christ.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Matthew 21:9,42

Jesus’ entry and His teaching use both the “Blessed is he that cometh” and rejected-stone language.

Acts 4:11

Peter applies the rejected stone made head of the corner directly to Jesus.

Thanksgiving connection

1 Chronicles 16 joins remembered acts of God with public thanksgiving and praise. This connection helps frame Psalm 118.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep thanksgiving in context

Do not make the deliverance in Psalm 118 a guaranteed timetable for every believer’s present crisis.

Keep messianic in context

Give explicit New Testament interpretation priority in Psalm 118; do not manufacture additional prophetic details beyond what Scripture establishes.

Read Psalms 118 watching for…

mercy endureth.

better trust LORD than princes.

nations compass.

stone rejected.

blessed he that cometh.

Chapter outline2 sections

1-18Give thanks for enduring mercy; the LORD answers, protects, and chastens without giving over to death 19-29The gates of righteousness open, the rejected stone becomes the head stone, and the day of salvation brings praise

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.

They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

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.

Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.

The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:

This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.

I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

STUDY THIS VERSE

Psalms 118:23

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