5 Out of my distress, I called on Yah.
Yah answered me with freedom. 6 Yahweh is on my side. I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me? 7 Yahweh is on my side among those who help me.
Therefore I will look in triumph at those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in Yahweh,
than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in Yahweh,
than to put confidence in princes. 10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of Yahweh, I cut them off. 11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me.
In the name of Yahweh I indeed cut them off. 12 They surrounded me like bees.
They are quenched like the burning thorns.
In the name of Yahweh I cut them off. 13 You pushed me back hard, to make me fall,
but Yahweh helped me. 14 Yah is my strength and song.
He has become my salvation. 15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous.
“The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly. 16 The right hand of Yahweh is exalted!
The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly!” 17 I will not die, but live,
and declare Yah’s works. 18 Yah has punished me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 118:5-18
Commentary on Psalm 118:1-18
(Read Psalm 118:1-18)
The account the psalmist here gives of his troubles is very applicable to Christ: many hated him without a cause; nay, the Lord himself chastened him sorely, bruised him, and put him to grief, that by his stripes we might be healed. God is sometimes the strength of his people, when he is not their song; they have spiritual supports, though they want spiritual delights. Whether the believer traces back his comfort to the everlasting goodness and mercy of God, or whether he looks forward to the blessing secured to him, he will find abundant cause for joy and praise. Every answer to our prayers is an evidence that the Lord is on our side; and then we need not fear what man can do unto us; we should conscientiously do our duty to all, and trust in him alone to accept and bless us. Let us seek to live to declare the works of God, and to encourage others to serve him and trust in him. Such were the triumphs of the Son of David, in the assurance that the good pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand.