Memorize Psalm 117

Douay-Rheims 1899

Give praise to Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let Israel now say that he is good: that his mercy endureth for ever. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let them that fear the Lord now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. In my trouble I called upon the Lord: and the Lord heard me, and enlarged me. The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man can do unto me. The Lord is my helper: and I will look over my enemies. It is good to confide in the Lord, rather than to have confidence in man. It is good to trust in the Lord, rather than to trust in princes. All nations compassed me about; and in the name of the Lord I have been revenged on them. Surrounding me they compassed me about: and in the name of the Lord I have been revenged on them. They surrounded me like bees, and they burned like fire among thorns: and in the name of the Lord I was revenged on them. Being pushed I was overturned that I might fall: but the Lord supported me. The Lord is my strength and my praise: and he is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and of salvation is in the tabernacles of the just. The right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength: the right hand of the Lord hath exulted me: the right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength. I shall not die, but live: and shall declare the works of the Lord. The Lord chastising hath chastised me: but he hath not delivered me over to death. Open ye to me the gates of justice: I will go into them, and give praise to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, the just shall enter into it. I will give glory to thee because thou hast heard me: and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected; the same is become the head of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing: and it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us be glad and rejoice therein. O Lord, save me: O Lord, give good success. Blessed be he that cometh in the name Lord. We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. The Lord is God, and he hath shone upon us. Appoint a solemn day, with shady boughs, even to the horn of the alter. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, and I will exalt thee. I will praise thee, because thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. O praise ye the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 117, Douay-Rheims 1899

477 words · worth a week or two, built up phrase by phrase ·

Start memorizing Psalm 117 →

Free, no account, nothing to install. The path opens with this verse already in it.

The five steps

  1. Meet the verse. Hear it read aloud, then echo it phrase by phrase, with a small hand motion for each phrase.
  2. Fill the gaps. About a third of the words become blanks. Say it out loud, supplying them; peek if you need to, trying is the point.
  3. Half hidden. Most of the words are gone now. Say it once more at bedtime; sleep locks it in overnight.
  4. First letters. Every word reduced to its first letter. Recite it with only those to guide you.
  5. All by yourself. Nothing but the reference. One confident recite, then it goes into your Verse Book to come back for review.

Each step makes a fine "tonight's step" spread over five days, and nothing is locked: the numbered dots jump anywhere. How to memorize Bible verses walks through the whole method.

Why it works

Three of the most replicated findings in learning science: retrieval practice (pulling a word from memory strengthens it more than rereading it), spacing (short tries on separate days beat one long one), and sleep (a verse said at bedtime is consolidated overnight). The blanks grow in stages so that every try is hard enough to count and never so hard that you give up.

Psalm 117 in context

Psalm 117 offers Scripture's briefest summons with the widest horizon. Every nation and people throughout the earth is invited to praise because steadfast love is powerful and faithfulness endures without end.

Read Psalm 117 in its chapter, in the Douay-Rheims 1899.

Verses that keep it company

Psalm 117 is on Short Bible verses to memorize.

In other translations

BSB · Berean Standard BibleKJV · King James VersionNET · New English TranslationWEB · World English BibleESV · English Standard VersionASV · American Standard (1901)YLT · Young's Literal Translation

The reference is the same in every one; the path lets you switch mid-way, and pasting any wording you like works too.