HarperCollins Study Bible
Page 228
14May the LORD give you increase,
both you and your children.
15May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
16The heavens are the LORD’s heavens,
but the earth he has given to human beings.
17The dead do not praise the LORD,
nor do any that go down into silence.
18But we will bless the LORD
from this time on and forevermore.
Praise the LORD!
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115.1–18 A liturgical prayer of the people. The changing pattern of the personal pronouns suggests antiphonal or alternating speakers in the course of the prayer. One of the Hallel psalms (see note on 113.1–9).
115.1–2 The first verse ascribes glory to God, but the second is more of a complaint suggesting some experience of distress on the part of the people. Their situation is understood to be a challenge to God’s glory and honor. Their words are therefore praise and a call for demonstration of God’s glory.
115.2 “Where is their God?” See note on 79.10.
115.3–8 As a response to the taunt of the nations, Israel or a representative voice declares the vitality and power of the God of Israel over against the impotent idols worshiped by the nations.
115.9–11 A voice or voices follow up this claim by calling upon people and priests to trust in the Lord, whose power over the gods of the nations has just been described.
115.11 Fear the LORD. See note on 34.7 (cf. 115.13). Some interpret this as a reference to proselytes in the postexilic community (cf. 1 Kings 8.41–45; Isa 56.6; Acts 13.16, 26) as distinct from the Israelite laity (O Israel, v. 9) and priests (O house of Aaron, v. 10).
115.12–13 The people respond, expressing their confidence in God’s blessing of them. It is possible, however, to understand these verses as the voice of a representative figure announcing that God has heard the prayer and will bless the people.
115.14–15 A priestly voice (cf. Num 6.22–27) prays a blessing prayer for the people.
115.16–18 Concluding hymn of praise by the people.
115.17 See note on 6.5.
115.18 Bless. See note on 103.1–2.
PSALM 116
Thanksgiving for Recovery from Illness
1I love the LORD, because he has heard
my voice and my supplications.
2Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
4Then I called on the name of the LORD:
“O LORD, I pray, save my life!”
5Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
6The LORD protects the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
7Return, O my soul, to your rest,
for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
8For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.
9I walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.
10I kept my faith, even when I said,
“I am greatly afflicted”;
11I said in my consternation,
“Everyone is a liar.”
12What shall I return to the LORD
for all his bounty to me?
13I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD,
14I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.
15Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
16O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
You have loosed my bonds.
17I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice
and call on the name of the LORD.
18I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,
19in the courts of the house of the LORD,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD!
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116.1–19 A song of thanksgiving for God’s help in time of distress. As in most of the prayers for help, the nature of the distress is not indicated except to say that the psalmist felt close to death (vv. 3, 8, 15). One of the Hallel psalms (see note on 113.1–9).
116.1–2 The basic word of gratitude because God has heard the prayer for help and delivered the sufferer. The testimony of the psalmist before the congregation (v. 18; cf. 22.22–25; 40.9–10; 107.32) begins at this point.
116.3–11 Testimony about the distress and God’s deliverance.
116.3–4 The suffering and the prayer it evoked.
116.3 Sheol. See note on 6.5.
116.5–9 The graciousness of God manifest in the salvation of the sufferer.
116.10–11 Looking back, the psalmist reports a continuing trust in God even when complaining and lamenting over affliction and persecution. Everyone is a liar may indicate that the distress was due to slander or a false accusation, or it may have been a general reaction of despair in the face of how everyone responded to the afflicted.
116.12–19 Fulfillment of the vow of thanksgiving that was part of the cry for help.
116.13 In worship the grateful psalmist now offers a libation and praises the name of the God who delivered.
116.15 The Lord cares about those who trust in the Lord and will seek to keep them from the defeat of death.
116.16 Child of your serving girl. See note on 86.16.
116.17 Thanksgiving sacrifice. Cf. 66.13–15; 107.22.
116.18–19 See note on 116.1–2.
PSALM 117
Universal Call to Worship
1Praise the LORD, all you nations!
Extol him, all you peoples!
2For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!
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117.1–2 A hymn of praise. One of the Hallel psalms (see note on 113.1–9).
117.1 Call to praise. For the praise of the nations, see 67.3–5; 68.32.
117.2 The reason for praise is God’s overwhelming love manifested toward Israel. Cf. 126.2–3.
PSALM 118
A Song of Victory
1O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures forever!
2Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
3Let the house of Aaron say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
4Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
5Out of my distress I called on the LORD;
the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
6With the LORD on my side I do not fear.
What can mortals do to me?
7The LORD is on my side to help me;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to put confidence in mortals.
9It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to put confidence in princes.
10All nations surrounded me;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
11They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
12They surrounded me like bees;
they blazeda like a fire of thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
13I was pushed hard,b so that I was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
14The LORD is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
15There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the LORD does valiantly;
16the right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.”
17I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18The LORD has punished me severely,
but he did not give me over to death.
19Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.
20This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.c
25Save us, we beseech you, O LORD!
O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!
26Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD.d
We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27The LORD is God,
and he has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the altar.e
28You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God, I will extol you.
29O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
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a Gk: Heb were extinguished
b Gk Syr Jerome: Heb You pushed me hard
c Or in him
d Or Blessed in the name of the LORD is the one who comes
e Meaning of Heb uncertain
118.1–29 A liturgy of thanksgiving in which an individual comes to the temple to give thanks to God in the context of the festival worship of the community. One of the Hallel psalms (see note on 113.1–9).
118.1–4 Call to praise. The short model of praise in v. 1 (cf. v. 29; note on 106.1) becomes a liturgical response in vv. 2–4 (cf. Ps 136).
118.2–4 See note on 115.11.
118.5–18 A song of thanksgiving of an individual who recounts the cry to the Lord in distress and how the Lord helped. Vv. 10–14, with their references to being surrounded by the nations, have suggested the possibility that the original speaker was a king. Although that is possible, a composition date after the exile would require a nonroyal speaker either using royal motifs or in some sense being beset by people of other nationalities. Nehemiah and the community of his time would be an example of this, though there is nothing to associate the psalm with him.
118.5 A summary report of the cry for help and God’s answer. A broad place. See note on 18.19.
118.6–9 Expressions of confidence in God.
118.6 Quoted in Heb 13.6. I do not fear may reflect the suppliant’s receiving an oracle of salvation with the assuring words “Do not fear” (cf. note on 22.21b).
118.8–9 Cf. 60.11; 146.3.
118.9 Refuge. See note on 2.10–12.
118.10–13 Account of the situation of distress.
118.14–18 Praise and thanksgiving to God for the help that was given.
118.14 Cf. Ex 15.2; Isa 12.2.
118.15–16 Perhaps an ancient victory song.
118.19–21 These verses suggest that the previous verses are part of a processional to the gates of the temple, where the suppliant now asks for entry to continue to give thanks to the Lord before the assembled congregation.
118.19 The request for entry.
118.20 The qualifications for entry into the sanctuary (cf. Pss 15; 24), probably spoken by a priest.
118.21 The thanksgiving of the individual now in the sanctuary.
118.22–27 The voices of the congregation or singers are heard praising God for the marvelous deliverance of the one in distress.
118.22 Either the words of the particular individual or those of the congregation. Quoted in Mt 21.42; Mk 12.10; Lk 20.17; Acts 4.11; 1 Pet 2.7.
118.23 Quoted in Mt 21.42; Mk 12.11.
118.25–26 Quoted or alluded to in Mt 21.9; Mk 11.9; Lk 19.38. Save us is the translation of the Hebrew expression “Hosanna.” V. 26 is probably a blessing uttered upon the one who comes to give thanks.
118.26 Bless. See note on 103.1–2.
118.27 The horns of the altar were four projections at the corners of the altar.
118.28 The act of thanksgiving by the individual in the sanctuary.
118.29 Concluding praise of the people or singers (cf. 2 Chr 5.13).
PSALM 119
The Glories of God’s Law
1Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
2Happy are those who keep his decrees,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways.
4You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
5O that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
6Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous ordinances.
8I will observe your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.
9How can young people keep their way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10With my whole heart I seek you;
do not let me stray from your commandments.
11I treasure your word in my heart,
so that I may not sin against you.
12Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes.
13With my lips I declare
all the ordinances of your mouth.
14I delight in the way of your decrees
as much as in all riches.
15I will meditate on your precepts,
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
17Deal bountifully with your servant,
so that I may live and observe your word.
18Open my eyes, so that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
19I live as an alien in the land;
do not hide your commandments from me.
20My soul is consumed with longing
for your ordinances at all times.
21You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
who wander from your commandments;
22take away from me their scorn and contempt,
for I have kept your decrees.
23Even though princes sit plotting against me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24Your decrees are my delight,
they are my counselors.
25My soul clings to the dust;
revive me according to your word.
26When I told of my ways, you answered me;
teach me your statutes.
27Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.
29Put false ways far from me;
and graciously teach me your law.
30I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your ordinances before me.
31I cling to your decrees, O LORD;
let me not be put to shame.
32I run the way of your commandments,
for you enlarge my understanding.
33Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statut
es,
and I will observe it to the end.
34Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
35Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36Turn my heart to your decrees,
and not to selfish gain.
37Turn my eyes from looking at vanities;
give me life in your ways.
38Confirm to your servant your promise,
which is for those who fear you.
39Turn away the disgrace that I dread,
for your ordinances are good.
40See, I have longed for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life.
41Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD,
your salvation according to your promise.
42Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me,
for I trust in your word.
43Do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your ordinances.
44I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever.
45I shall walk at liberty,
for I have sought your precepts.
46I will also speak of your decrees before kings,
and shall not be put to shame;
47I find my delight in your commandments,
because I love them.
48I revere your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
49Remember your word to your servant,
in which you have made me hope.
50This is my comfort in my distress,
that your promise gives me life.
51The arrogant utterly deride me,
but I do not turn away from your law.
52When I think of your ordinances from of old,
I take comfort, O LORD.
53Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
those who forsake your law.
54Your statutes have been my songs
wherever I make my home.
55I remember your name in the night, O LORD,
and keep your law.
56This blessing has fallen to me,