1 * Tell the Lord

how thankful you are,

because he is kind

and always merciful.

2 Let Israel shout,

"God is always merciful!"

3 Let the family of Aaron

the priest shout,

"God is always merciful!"

4 Let every true worshiper

of the Lord shout,

"God is always merciful!"

5 When I was really hurting,

I prayed to the Lord.

He answered my prayer,

and took my worries away.

6 * The Lord is on my side,

and I am not afraid

of what others can do to me.

7 With the Lord on my side,

I will defeat

my hateful enemies.

8 It is better to trust the Lord

for protection

than to trust anyone else,

9 including strong leaders.

10 Nations surrounded me,

but I got rid of them

by the power of the Lord.

11 They attacked from all sides,

but I got rid of them

by the power of the Lord.

12 They swarmed around like bees,

but by the power of the Lord,

I got rid of them

and their fiery sting.

13 Their attacks were so fierce

that I nearly fell,

but the Lord helped me.

14 * My power and my strength

come from the Lord,

and he has saved me.

15 From the tents of God's people

come shouts of victory:

"The Lord is powerful!

16 With his mighty arm

the Lord wins victories!

The Lord is powerful!"

17 And so my life is safe,

and I will live to tell

what the Lord has done.

18 He punished me terribly,

but he did not let death

lay its hands on me.

19 Open the gates of justice!

I will enter and tell the Lord

how thankful I am.

20 Here is the gate of the Lord!

Everyone who does right

may enter this gate.

21 I praise the Lord

for answering my prayers

and saving me.

22 ** The stone that the builders

tossed aside

has now become

the most important stone.

23 The Lord has done this,

and it is amazing to us.

24 This day belongs to the Lord!

Let's celebrate

and be glad today.

25 * We'll ask the Lord to save us!

We'll sincerely ask the Lord

to let us win.

26 * God bless the one who comes

in the name of the Lord!

We praise you from here

in the house of the Lord.

27 The Lord is our God,

and he has given us light!

Start the celebration!

March with palm branches

all the way to the altar.*

28 The Lord is my God!

I will praise him and tell him

how thankful I am.

29 Tell the Lord

how thankful you are,

because he is kind

and always merciful.