Psalm 118:17
New International Version
I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

New Living Translation
I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the LORD has done.

English Standard Version
I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done.

King James Bible
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

New King James Version
I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
I will not die, but live, And tell of the works of the LORD.

NASB 1995
I will not die, but live, And tell of the works of the LORD.

NASB 1977
I shall not die, but live, And tell of the works of the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
I will not die; indeed I will live, And recount the works of Yah.

Amplified Bible
I will not die, but live, And declare the works and recount the illustrious acts of the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done.

American Standard Version
I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
And so my life is safe, and I will live to tell what the LORD has done.

English Revised Version
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will not die, but I will live and tell what the LORD has done.

Good News Translation
I will not die; instead, I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done.

International Standard Version
I will not die, but I will live to recount the deeds of the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done.

NET Bible
I will not die, but live, and I will proclaim what the LORD has done.

New Heart English Bible
I will not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

World English Bible
I will not die, but live, and declare Yah’s works.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I do not die, but live, "" And recount the works of YAH,

Young's Literal Translation
I do not die, but live, And recount the works of Jah,

Smith's Literal Translation
I shall not die, for I shall live and I shall recount the works of Jah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I shall not die, but live: and shall declare the works of the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I will not die, but I will live. And I will declare the works of the Lord.

New American Bible
I shall not die but live and declare the deeds of the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I shall not die but I shall live, and I shall narrate the works of LORD JEHOVAH!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I shall not die, but live, and recount the works of the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Give Thanks to the LORD, for He is Good
16The right hand of the LORD is exalted! The right hand of the LORD performs with valor!” 17I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done. 18The LORD disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death.…

Cross References
Isaiah 38:19
The living, only the living, can thank You, as I do today; fathers will tell their children about Your faithfulness.

2 Kings 20:5
“Go back and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. I will surely heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the house of the LORD.

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. / And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

2 Corinthians 4:10-11
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. / For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.

Romans 8:11
And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

Philippians 1:21
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

John 14:19
In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.

2 Timothy 1:10
And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,

Psalm 6:5
For there is no mention of You in death; who can praise You from Sheol?

Psalm 30:9
“What gain is there in my bloodshed, in my descent to the Pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?

Psalm 73:28
But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.

Psalm 116:8-9
For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. / I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

Isaiah 38:18-19
For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness. / The living, only the living, can thank You, as I do today; fathers will tell their children about Your faithfulness.

Ezekiel 37:5-6
This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will come to life. / I will attach tendons to you and make flesh grow upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath within you so that you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

Hosea 6:2
After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.


Treasury of Scripture

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

die

Psalm 6:5
For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

Isaiah 38:16-20
O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live…

Habakkuk 1:12
Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.

declare

Psalm 40:5,10
Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered…

Psalm 71:17,18
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works…

Psalm 73:28
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

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Psalm 118
1. An exhortation to praise God for his mercy
5. The psalmist by his experience shows how good it is to trust in God
19. Under the type of the psalmist the coming of Christ in his kingdom is expressed














I will not die
This phrase is a bold declaration of faith and trust in God's deliverance. The Hebrew word for "die" here is "mût," which often signifies physical death but can also imply spiritual or metaphorical death. In the context of Psalm 118, the psalmist is expressing confidence that God will preserve his life despite the threats or adversities he faces. Historically, this psalm is associated with the Passover celebration, a time when the Israelites remembered God's deliverance from Egypt. The phrase reflects a deep-seated belief in God's power to save and sustain life, both physically and spiritually.

but I will live
The Hebrew word for "live" is "ḥāyâ," which means to have life, to remain alive, or to be restored to life. This is not just a statement about physical survival but also about thriving and experiencing the fullness of life that God intends. In the biblical context, life is a gift from God, and to live is to be in a relationship with Him, fulfilling His purposes. The psalmist's declaration is one of hope and assurance that God will not only preserve him but also enable him to live a life that is meaningful and purposeful.

and proclaim
The word "proclaim" comes from the Hebrew "sāpar," which means to recount, declare, or tell. This implies an active response to God's deliverance. The psalmist is not content with merely surviving; he is committed to sharing the testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness. This reflects a common biblical theme where God's acts of salvation are to be shared with others, serving as a witness to His power and love. The act of proclaiming is both a personal and communal responsibility, encouraging others to trust in God.

what the LORD has done
The phrase "what the LORD has done" emphasizes the works and deeds of Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God of Israel. The Hebrew word for "done" is "ʿāśâ," which means to do, make, or accomplish. This highlights the active role of God in the life of the believer. The psalmist is acknowledging that his deliverance is not by his own strength or merit but by the sovereign action of God. This acknowledgment is central to the faith of Israel, where God's past actions are remembered and celebrated as a foundation for present and future hope. The psalmist's proclamation serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and encourages others to trust in His continued provision and protection.

(17) I shall not die, but live.--It is Israel, and not an individual, who thus claims a continuance of life for the display of God's glory. But as so often we find, the hope is so expressed as to suit not only the community for whom the psalm was composed and sung, but each member of it individually.

Verse 17. - I shall not die, but live. The psalmist speaks, not in his own person, but in the name of his nation. They had been brought very near to extinction; but now the danger was past. God had given them "a reviving" (Ezra 9:8, 9); and they felt that henceforth they would "live." And declare the works of the Lord. They would employ the new life granted them in "declaring God's works" (see Psalm 40:5, 10; Psalm 96:3; Psalm 145:4-6); i.e. they would witness to all men of "the might of his marvelous acts," and "abundantly utter the memory of his great goodness."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I will not
לֹֽא (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

die,
אָמ֥וּת (’ā·mūṯ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

but
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I will live
אֶֽחְיֶ֑ה (’eḥ·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

and proclaim
וַ֝אֲסַפֵּ֗ר (wa·’ă·sap·pêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate

what the LORD
יָֽהּ׃ (yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3050: LORD -- the name of the God of Israel

has done.
מַֽעֲשֵׂ֥י (ma·‘ă·śê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property


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OT Poetry: Psalm 118:17 I will not die but live (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 118:16
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