Read & explore together
The LORD Is on My Side
Psalm 118 is a song of thanks that moves from a shared call to praise into rescue, trust, worship, prayer, and praise again. Its repeated message is that Yahweh’s loving kindness endures forever.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
The psalm begins and ends with the same thanksgiving line. In between, Israel, the house of Aaron, and those who fear Yahweh are called to join in. One speaker tells of distress, help, praise, entry to worship, and renewed thanks to Yahweh.
Psalms 118:1–29Main takeaway
Psalm 118 teaches that Yahweh’s enduring loving kindness leads his people to trust him, thank him, and rejoice in his saving help.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A repeated reason for thanksThe song opens by calling people to thank Yahweh because he is good and his loving kindness endures forever.
Explanation
The song opens by calling people to thank Yahweh because he is good and his loving kindness endures forever. Israel, the house of Aaron, and those who fear Yahweh are all invited to say this. The psalm begins as a shared confession, not only a private feeling.
02Trusting Yahweh instead of peopleThe speaker says he called to Yah in distress and was answered with freedom. Because Yahweh is on his side, he says he will not be afraid.
Explanation
The speaker says he called to Yah in distress and was answered with freedom. Because Yahweh is on his side, he says he will not be afraid. This leads to the lesson that taking refuge in Yahweh is better than putting confidence in man or princes.
03Help, life, and praiseThe psalm describes enemies surrounding the speaker and pushing him hard, yet Yahweh helped him.
Explanation
The psalm describes enemies surrounding the speaker and pushing him hard, yet Yahweh helped him. So he says, “Yah is my strength and song” and speaks of salvation. He has not been given over to death, but will live and declare Yah’s works.
04Entering with thanksThe final part turns to worship. The speaker asks for the gates of righteousness to be opened so he may give thanks.
Explanation
The final part turns to worship. The speaker asks for the gates of righteousness to be opened so he may give thanks. Yahweh’s answer and salvation are praised, the rejected stone becomes the cornerstone, and the psalm ends with rejoicing, prayer, blessing, sacrifice, exaltation, and thanksgiving.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Who is invited to say that Yahweh’s loving kindness endures forever?
List the groups named at the start and notice how the same words are shared by all of them.
02What reasons does the speaker give for trusting Yahweh rather than people?
Look for what Yahweh did in the speaker’s distress and how that shapes his confidence.
03What acts of worship appear near the end of the psalm?
Follow the actions and requests: entering, thanking, rejoicing, asking, blessing, exalting, and thanking again.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 118:1–29
1Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
2Let Israel now say that his loving kindness endures forever.
3Let the house of Aaron now say that his loving kindness endures forever.
4Now let those who fear Yahweh say that his loving kindness endures forever.
5Out of my distress, I called on Yah. Yah answered me with freedom.
6Yahweh is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
7Yahweh is on my side among those who help me. Therefore I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
8It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in man.
9It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in princes.
10All the nations surrounded me, but in Yahweh’s name I cut them off.
11They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. In Yahweh’s name I indeed cut them off.
12They surrounded me like bees. They are quenched like the burning thorns. In Yahweh’s name I cut them off.
13You pushed me back hard, to make me fall, but Yahweh helped me.
14Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation.
15The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. “The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly.
16The right hand of Yahweh is exalted! The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly!”
17I will not die, but live, and declare Yah’s works.
18Yah has punished me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
19Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will enter into them. I will give thanks to Yah.
20This is the gate of Yahweh; the righteous will enter into it.
21I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me, and have become my salvation.
22The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
23This is Yahweh’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes.
24This is the day that Yahweh has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!
25Save us now, we beg you, Yahweh! Yahweh, we beg you, send prosperity now.
26Blessed is he who comes in Yahweh’s name! We have blessed you out of Yahweh’s house.
27Yahweh is God, and he has given us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar.
28You are my God, and I will give thanks to you. You are my God, I will exalt you.
29Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.