1. Wed: 2 Kings 14-17
  2. Thu: Hebrews 5-7
  3. Fri: Hosea 1-3
Saturday · Week 32
The Books of Poetry & Wisdom

Psalms 111-118

Week 32 · about 11 min
  1. Sun: Numbers 1-3
  2. Mon: John 4-5
  3. Tue: Jeremiah 17-18

Psalms of praise, including the Hallel, Psalms 113-118, which were sung at Passover.

The Songs Jesus Sang on His Last Night

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

Psalm 118:24 (KJV)

Psalms 113 through 118 were sung at Passover. When Matthew says they sang a hymn after the Last Supper, these are likely what they sang. That means Jesus probably sang Psalm 118 on his way to Gethsemane: “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner,” and “This is the day which the LORD hath made.” Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, just two verses. Psalm 116 says, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 115 laughs at idols that have mouths but can’t speak.

Reflect: How does it change Psalm 118 to imagine Jesus singing it on the way to the cross?

Psalm 111

1Hallelujah! I will celebrate Jehovah with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the assembly.

2Great are the works of Jehovah; sought out of all that delight in them.

3His work is majesty and splendour, and his righteousness abideth for ever.

4He hath made his wonders to be remembered: Jehovah is gracious and merciful.

5He hath given meat unto them that fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.

6He hath shewn his people the power of his works, to give them the heritage of the nations.

7The works of his hands are truth and judgment; all his precepts are faithful:

8Maintained for ever and ever, done in truth and uprightness.

9He sent deliverance unto his people; he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and terrible is his name.

10The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his precepts: his praise abideth for ever.

Psalm 112

1Hallelujah! Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

2His seed shall be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

3Wealth and riches shall be in his house; and his righteousness abideth for ever.

4Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness; he is gracious, and merciful, and righteous.

5It is well with the man that is gracious and lendeth; he will sustain his cause in judgment.

6For he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

7He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed confiding in Jehovah;

8His heart is maintained, he is not afraid, until he see his desire upon his oppressors.

9He scattereth abroad, he giveth to the needy; his righteousness abideth for ever: his horn shall be exalted with honour.

10The wicked man shall see it and be vexed; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

Psalm 113

1Hallelujah! Praise, ye servants of Jehovah, praise the name of Jehovah.

2Blessed be the name of Jehovah, from this time forth and for evermore!

3From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, let Jehovah's name be praised.

4Jehovah is high above all nations, his glory above the heavens.

5Who is like unto Jehovah our God, who hath placed his dwelling on high;

6Who humbleth himself to look on the heavens and on the earth?

7He raiseth up the poor out of the dust; from the dung-hill he lifteth up the needy,

8To set him among nobles, among the nobles of his people.

9He maketh the barren woman to keep house, as a joyful mother of sons. Hallelujah!

Psalm 114

1When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,

2Judah was his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.

3The sea saw it and fled, the Jordan turned back;

4The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.

5What ailed thee, thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou turnedst back?

6Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams? ye hills, like lambs?

7Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the +God of Jacob,

8Who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

Psalm 115

1Not unto us, O Jehovah, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth's sake.

2Wherefore should the nations say, Where then is their God?

3But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he pleased.

4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands:

5They have a mouth, and they speak not; eyes have they, and they see not;

6They have ears, and they hear not; a nose have they, and they smell not;

7They have hands, and they handle not; feet have they, and they walk not; they give no sound through their throat.

8They that make them are like unto them, -- every one that confideth in them.

9O Israel, confide thou in Jehovah: he is their help and their shield.

10House of Aaron, confide in Jehovah: he is their help and their shield.

11Ye that fear Jehovah, confide in Jehovah: he is their help and their shield.

12Jehovah hath been mindful of us: he will bless, he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron;

13He will bless them that fear Jehovah, both the small and the great.

14Jehovah will add unto you more, unto you and unto your children.

15Ye are blessed of Jehovah, who made the heavens and the earth.

16The heavens are the heavens of Jehovah, but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

17The dead praise not Jah, neither any that go down into silence;

18But *we* will bless Jah from this time forth and for evermore. Hallelujah!

Psalm 116

1I love Jehovah, for he hath heard my voice and my supplications;

2For he hath inclined his ear unto me, and I will call upon him during all my days.

3The bands of death encompassed me, and the anguish of Sheol took hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow:

4Then called I upon the name of Jehovah: I beseech thee, Jehovah, deliver my soul.

5Gracious is Jehovah and righteous; and our God is merciful.

6Jehovah keepeth the simple: I was brought low, and he saved me.

7Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for Jehovah hath dealt bountifully with thee.

8For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, my feet from falling.

9I will walk before Jehovah in the land of the living.

10I believed, therefore have I spoken. As for me, I was greatly afflicted.

11I said in my haste, All men are liars.

12What shall I render unto Jehovah, for all his benefits toward me?

13I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of Jehovah.

14I will perform my vows unto Jehovah, yea, before all his people.

15Precious in the sight of Jehovah is the death of his saints.

16Yea, Jehovah! for I am thy servant; I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.

17I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of Jehovah.

18I will perform my vows unto Jehovah, yea, before all his people,

19In the courts of Jehovah's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah!

Psalm 117

1Praise Jehovah, all ye nations; laud him, all ye peoples;

2For his loving-kindness is great toward us, and the truth of Jehovah endureth for ever. Hallelujah!

Psalm 118

1Give ye thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; for his loving-kindness endureth for ever.

2Oh let Israel say, that his loving-kindness endureth for ever.

3Oh let the house of Aaron say, that his loving-kindness endureth for ever.

4Oh let them that fear Jehovah say, that his loving-kindness endureth for ever.

5I called upon Jah in distress; Jah answered me and set me in a large place.

6Jehovah is for me, I will not fear; what can man do unto me?

7Jehovah is for me among them that help me; and I shall see my desire upon them that hate me.

8It is better to trust in Jehovah than to put confidence in man;

9It is better to trust in Jehovah than to put confidence in nobles.

10All nations encompassed me; but in the name of Jehovah have I destroyed them.

11They encompassed me, yea, encompassed me; but in the name of Jehovah have I destroyed them.

12They encompassed me like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of Jehovah have I destroyed them.

13Thou hast thrust hard at me that I might fall; but Jehovah helped me.

14My strength and song is Jah, and he is become my salvation.

15The voice of triumph and salvation is in the tents of the righteous: the right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly;

16The right hand of Jehovah is exalted, the right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly.

17I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of Jah.

18Jah hath chastened me sore; but he hath not given me over unto death.

19Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will enter into them; Jah will I praise.

20This is the gate of Jehovah: the righteous shall enter therein.

21I will give thee thanks, for thou hast answered me, and art become my salvation.

22The stone which the builders rejected hath become the head of the corner:

23This is of Jehovah; it is wonderful in our eyes.

24This is the day that Jehovah hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25Oh save, Jehovah, I beseech thee; Jehovah, I beseech thee, oh send prosperity!

26Blessed be he that cometh in the name of Jehovah. We have blessed you out of the house of Jehovah.

27Jehovah is God, and he hath given us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, -- up to the horns of the altar.

28Thou art my God, and I will give thee thanks; my God, I will exalt thee.

29Give ye thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; for his loving-kindness endureth for ever.

Darby Translation (Darby). Public domain.