Psalms – Chapter 117

Old Testament29 Verses

1Give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2Let Israel now say, that he is good: that his mercy endureth for ever.

3Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

4Let them that fear the Lord now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

5In my trouble I called upon the Lord: and the Lord heard me, and enlarged me.

6The Lord is my helper: I will not fear what man can do unto me.

7The Lord is my helper: and I will look over my enemies.

8It is good to confide in the Lord, rather than to have confidence in man.

9It is good to trust in the Lord, rather than to trust in princes.

10All nations compassed me about; and, in the name of the Lord I have been revenged on them.

11Surrounding me they compassed me about: and in the name of the Lord I have been revenged on them.

12They surrounded me like bees, and they burned like fire among thorns: and in the name of the Lord I was revenged on them.

13Being pushed I was overturned that I might fall: but the Lord supported me.

14The Lord is my strength and my praise: and he is become my salvation.

15The voice of rejoicing and of salvation is in the tabernacles of the just.

16The 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.

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

18The Lord chastising hath chastised me: but he hath not delivered me over to death.

19Open ye to me the gates of justice: I will go in to them, and give praise to the Lord.

20This is the gate of the Lord, the just shall enter into it.

21I will give glory to thee because thou hast heard me: and art become my salvation.

22The stone which the builders rejected; the same is become the head of the corner.

23This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes.

24This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us be glad and rejoice therein.

25O Lord, save me: O Lord, give good success.

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

27The Lord is God, and he hath shone upon us. Appoint a solemn day, with shady boughs, even to the horn of the altar.

28Thou 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.

29O praise ye the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Reflection for Today

Psalms Chapter 117 presents themes of prayer, praise, and the full range of human emotion before God that Catholic tradition has long cherished. the Psalms are the prayer book of the Church, prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (CIC 2585-2589). The teaching that God invites us to bring all our emotions to Him remains as relevant today as when first written.

The Church reads Scripture within the context of the liturgy, where the Word of God is proclaimed and celebrated. The Catechism teaches that "in the liturgy, God speaks to his people and Christ is still proclaiming his Gospel" (CIC 1088). This chapter, when read in the context of the Church's worship, takes on deeper meaning.

Catholic biblical scholarship, guided by the Magisterium, helps us understand both the historical context and the spiritual meaning of these texts. The four senses of Scripture—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—open up the richness of God's Word. May your reading of this chapter bear fruit in holiness and service to others.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

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