Psalm 118 as a Choral Reading

Narrator - Psalm 118:1-4

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"

                  "Let Israel say: 'His steadfast love endures forever.'"

                  "Let the house of Aaron say: 'His steadfast love endures forever.'"

                  "Let those who fear the Lord say: 'His steadfast love endures forever."

The Conqueror - 118:5-7

"Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side, I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me."

The Conqueror's Procession - 118:8-9

"It is better to take refuge in Jehovah than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in Jehovah than to trust in princes."

The Conqueror - 118:10-14                 

"All nations surrounded me: in the name of the Lord I cut them off! They surrounded me on every side; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."

The Conqueror's Procession - 118:15-16

"Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: The right hand of the Lord does valiantly, the right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!"

The Conqueror - 118:17-18, 19

"I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord. The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death."

"Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord."

From Within the Temple - 118:20

"This is the gate of Jehovah; the righteous shall enter through it."

The Conqueror - 118:21

"I thank you [Lord] that you have answered me and have become my salvation."

Unidentified Voices - 118:22-24

"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is Jehovah's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day Jehovah has made; let us be rejoice and be glad in it."

The Conqueror's Procession - 118:25

"Save us, we pray, O Jehovah! O Jehovah, we pray give us success!"

The Priests - 118:26

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord!"

                 

The Conqueror's Procession - 118:27

"The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords up to the horns of the altar."

The Conqueror

"You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you."

                 

Everyone - 118:28

"Oh give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"