Psalms 118: NIV and KGV Bible Versions

The study of the Bible can be much easy if you break it up into small trivia. Do you know what is Psalms 118 and which verse is the very centre of the Bible?

Psalms 118 is the Middle Chapter of the Bible and 118th psalm of the Book of Psalms, also known in English by its 1st verse, in the (KJV) King James Version, “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endured forever.”

Psalms 118 New International Version (NIV)

Psalms 118 New International Version (NIV)
Psalms 118 New International Version (NIV)
  1. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
  2. Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.”
  3. Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.”
  4. Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.”
  5. When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place.
  6. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
  7. The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.
  8. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.
  9. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
  10. All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
  11. They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
  12. They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
  13. I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me.
  14. The Lord is my strength and my defence; he has become my salvation.
  15. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
  16. The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
  17. I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
  18. The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
  19. Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
  20. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter.
  21. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
  22. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
  23. the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
  24. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.
  25. Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!
  26. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord, we bless you.
  27. The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
  28. You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
  29. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

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Psalms 118 King James Version

Psalms 118 King James Version
Psalm 118 King James Version
  1. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth forever.
  2. Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth forever.
  3. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth forever.
  4. Let them now that fear the lord say, that his mercy endureth forever.
  5. I called upon the lord in distress: the lord answered me and set me in a large place.
  6. The lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
  7. The lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore, shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
  8. It is better to trust in the lord than to put confidence in man.
  9. It is better to trust in the lord than to put confidence in princes.
  10. All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the lord will I destroy them.
  11. They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the lord, I will destroy them.
  12. They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the lord I will destroy them.
  13. Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the lord helped me.
  14. The lord is my strength and song and is become my salvation.
  15. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the lord doeth valiantly.
  16. The right hand of the lord is exalted: the right hand of the lord doeth valiantly.
  17. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the lord.
  18. The lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
  19. Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the lord:
  20. This gate of the lord, into which the righteous shall enter.
  21. I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
  22. The stone which the builders refused becomes the headstone of the corner.
  23. This is the lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
  24. This is the day which the lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
  25. Save now, I beseech thee, O lord: O lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
  26. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the lord.
  27. God is the lord, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
  28. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
  29. O give thanks unto the lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.

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The Central Chapter of the Bible: Psalms 118

The point can be reasoned based on what Bible version you are using, but by most estimate, the very centre of the Bible as per the chapter count is Psalms 118.

The Central Chapter of the Bible Psalms 118
The Central Chapter of the Bible Psalms 118

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Here are some other great truths adjoining Psalms 118:

  • Psalm 119: The longest chapter of the Bible falls just after this centre chapter.
  • Psalm 117: The shortest chapter of the Bible falls just before this centre chapter.
  • There are precisely 594 chapters before Psalms 118, and precisely 594 chapters after it.
  • When you add the number of chapters before Psalms 118 and those after, the sum is 1,118. And the verse at the very centre of the Bible is Psalms 118:8.

The 3rd section of the Hebrew Bible has The Book of Psalms and a book of the Cristian Old Testament.

In the Greek Septuagint version of the bible and its Latin version in the Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 117 in a little diverse numbering arrangement.

In Latin, it is famous as “Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius”.

Its subjects are a prayer to God and trust in God rather than on human forte. The psalm is a steady part of Jewish, Catholic, Anglican and Protestant liturgies.

What is the centre verse of the Bible?

This central verse of the Bible prompts devotees to ask the query, “Are you centred in your trust in God?”

What is the centre verse of the Bible
What is the centre verse of the Bible?

Psalms 118:8: It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. (NIV)

Psalms 118:8: It is better to trust in the lord than to put confidence in princes. (KJV)

It is a precise verse that prompts Christians to have faith in God over believing in themselves or other folks.

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As Christians know, God reliably offers for us and His grace is given to us at will. Even in the hardest times, we should centre ourselves by believing in God.

He is there making us resilient, giving us happiness, and carrying us when life weighs severely on us.

Different Version of the Bible

While great truths like these lure our focus to certain verses, the “centre of the Bible” data is not valid to every version of the Bible. Why not?

Different Version of the Bible
Different Version of the Bible

Catholics use one version of the Bible, and Hebrews use another.

Some specialists have calculated Psalm 117 as the centre of the King James Version of the Bible, while others state that there is no central verse of the Bible due to an even number of verses.

Below is the list of some of the notable verses from the Psalms 118:

  1. Verse 5: I called on the lord in distress; the lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
  2. Verse 14: The lord is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation.

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These words are paralleled in the Song of Moses (Exodus 15:2) and are used by the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 12:2.

  • Verse 22: The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
  • Verse 23: This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvellous in our eyes.

Conclusion

This psalm is aligned on God, in a drive that expresses appreciation, respect, joy and tribute.

In the King James Version, the Lord is cited in every verse. The psalm is one of the so-called Egyptian Hallel.

This central verse of the Bible is Psalms 118 which states, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” (NIV)

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What is the shortest Psalm in the Bible?

Psalm 117 is The shortest chapter of the Bible falls just before this centre chapter. There are 1189 sections in the Bible. The very centre chapter of the Bible is the 595th chapter.

What is the longest word in the Bible?

The child Maher-shalal-hash-baz is the second prophetic-name child after the birth of Immanuel, is the longest name or word in the Bible. Though a possible longer name or phrase in Isaiah is found in Isaiah 9:6 called “Pele-joez-el-gibbor-abi-ad-sar-shalom.”

Who is the writer of Psalms 118?

Psalms 118 was authored by David and is included in the Hallel prayer for special feast days, including Rosh Hodesh. Many if not all of the Psalms were traditionally held to have been composed by David, but as the Wikipedia entry states, “his authorship is not accepted by modern scholars”.

What is the true meaning of Psalms 118?

Psalms 118 is the 118th psalm of the Book of Psalms, generally known in English by its first verse, in the King James Version, “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endure for ever.” Its themes are thanksgiving to God and reliance on God rather than on human strength.