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.
O give thanks to the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endures for ever.
Of the excellence of virtue consisting in the love and observance of the commandments of God.
ALEPH.118:1Aleph: The first eight verses of this psalm in the original begin with Aleph, which is the name of the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The second eight verses begin with Beth, the name of the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet; and so to the end of the whole alphabet, in all twenty-two letters, each letter having eight verses. This order is variously expounded by the holy fathers; which shows the difficulty of understanding the holy scriptures, and consequently with what humility, and submission to the Church they are to be read.(Challoner)
Alleluia. Blessed are the immaculate in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.