Bible / Psalms
Psalm 118 [Douay 117]
World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision, the traditional Catholic English Bible. About the translations
Psalm 118 in modern numbering
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
2 Let Israel now say that his loving kindness endures forever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say that his loving kindness endures forever.
4 Now let those who fear the LORD say that his loving kindness endures forever.
5 Out of my distress, I called on the LORD. The LORD answered me with freedom.
6 The LORD is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is on my side among those who help me. Therefore I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD, than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD, than to put confidence in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the LORD’s name I cut them off.
11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. In the LORD’s name I indeed cut them off.
12 They surrounded me like bees. They are quenched like the burning thorns. In the LORD’s name I cut them off.
13 You pushed me back hard, to make me fall, but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and song. He has become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted! The right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”
17 I will not die, but live, and declare the LORD’s works.
18 The LORD has punished me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will enter into them. I will give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous will enter into it.
21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me, and have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!
25 Save us now, we beg you, LORD! LORD, we beg you, send prosperity now.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the LORD’s name! We have blessed you out of the LORD’s house.
27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you. You are my God, I will exalt you.
29 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
1 Give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Let Israel now say, that he is good: that his mercy endureth for ever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
4 Let them that fear the Lord now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
5 In my trouble I called upon the Lord: and the Lord heard me, and enlarged me.
6 The Lord is my helper: I will not fear what man can do unto me.
7 The Lord is my helper: and I will look over my enemies.
8 It is good to confide in the Lord, rather than to have confidence in man.
9 It is good to trust in the Lord, rather than to trust in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about; and, in the name of the Lord I have been revenged on them.
11 Surrounding me they compassed me about: and in the name of the Lord I have been revenged on them.
12 They surrounded me like bees, and they burned like fire among thorns: and in the name of the Lord I was revenged on them.
13 Being pushed I was overturned that I might fall: but the Lord supported me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my praise: and he is become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and of salvation is in the tabernacles of the just.
16 The right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength: the right hand of the Lord hath exalted me: the right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength.
17 I shall not die, but live: and shall declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord chastising hath chastised me: but he hath not delivered me over to death.
19 Open ye to me the gates of justice: I will go in to them, and give praise to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord, the just shall enter into it.
21 I will give glory to thee because thou hast heard me: and art become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected; the same is become the head of the corner.
23 This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us be glad and rejoice therein.
25 O Lord, save me: O Lord, give good success.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord. We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God, and he hath shone upon us. Appoint a solemn day, with shady boughs, even to the horn of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, and I will exalt thee. I will praise thee, because thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
29 O praise ye the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text. The Catechism uses modern verse numbers and psalm numbers (one higher than Douay-Rheims for most psalms), so these are listed by chapter.
- Psalm 118:14 in modern BiblesCCC 1808
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1808 “Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve…”
- Psalm 118:18 in modern Bibles
Read the Fathers
“For thus saith the holy Word: "The Lord hath severely chastened me, yet hath not given me over to death.”
Quoted in First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Clement of Rome (c. AD 96), Chapter LVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
- Psalm 118:19 in modern Bibles
Read the Fathers
“… which is set open for the attainment of life, as it is written, "Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go in by them, and will praise the Lord: this is the gate of the Lord: the righteous shall enter in by it.”
Quoted in First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Clement of Rome (c. AD 96), Chapter XLVIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
- Psalm 118:20 in modern Bibles
Read the Fathers
“… which is set open for the attainment of life, as it is written, "Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go in by them, and will praise the Lord: this is the gate of the Lord: the righteous shall enter in by it.”
Quoted in First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Clement of Rome (c. AD 96), Chapter XLVIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
- Psalm 118:22 in modern BiblesCCC 587
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 587 “If the Law and the Jerusalem Temple could be occasions of opposition to Jesus by Israel's religious authorities, his role in the…”
“rejected, the same has become the head of the corner.”
Quoted in The Letter of Barnabas, Unknown author (early 2nd century), Chapter VI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
- Psalm 118:24 in modern Bibles
Read the Fathers
“rejected, the same has become the head of the corner." And again he says, "This is the great and wonderful day which the Lord hath made.”
Quoted in The Letter of Barnabas, Unknown author (early 2nd century), Chapter VI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
- Psalm 118:26 in modern BiblesCCC 559
Read the Catechism
- CCC 559 “How will Jerusalem welcome her Messiah? Although Jesus had always refused popular attempts to make him king, he chooses the time and…”