Psalms Word & Image: Psalm 118 & the Paintings of James Tissot

Psalm 118

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.


James Tissot, The Offering of Melchizedek. Genesis

Let Israel now say,

“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

James Tissot, Choristers in temple worship

I called on the Lord in distress;

The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.

James Tissot, The Ark Passes Over the Jordan

All nations surrounded me,

But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.


James Tissot, Moses and Joshua bowing before the Ark

The voice of rejoicing and salvation

Is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
The right hand of the Lord is exalted;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of the Lord.
The Lord has chastened me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.


James Tissot, The Seven Trumpets of Jericho

Open to me the gates of righteousness;

I will go through them,
And I will praise the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord,
Through which the righteous shall enter.


James Tissot, Abraham and the Three Angels

I will praise You,

For You have answered me,
And have become my salvation.


James Tissot, God Renews His Promises to Abraham

The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.


James Tissot, Nathan Rebukes David

Save now, I pray, O Lord;

O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
God is the Lord,
And He has given us light;
Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise You;
You are my God, I will exalt You.


The Priests, James Tissot

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.