Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The repeated plea, "Save us, we pray," isn't just a request for help, but a profound acknowledgment of ongoing dependence on God. It emphasizes that "now" here isn't about a specific moment in time, but a particle of entreaty, meaning "please" or "now, I beg you," highlighting Israel's constant need for divine intervention and success.
Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse erupts from a moment of immense celebration and desperate need, likely sung as a king or a redeemed people entered Jerusalem. It's a passionate plea for God's continued deliverance and blessing, echoing the urgent cry for help that has punctuated their history. The words "Save now" and "send now prosperity" are a direct, heartfelt appeal for God to act decisively, not just in the past but right now, continuing the work He's started and ensuring future success.
Ever felt like you're barely holding on, desperately needing a breakthrough? This ancient cry echoes that very feeling, but with a divine twist.
The opening of this verse, "Save us, we pray, O LORD!", isn't just a polite request. It's an urgent plea born from a deep understanding of human frailty and constant dependence on God. The repeated use of 'we pray' (or 'beseech') underscores the earnestness and communal nature of this prayer. It's a recognition that without God's intervention, any situation, no matter how stable it seems, can crumble. This isn't about a one-time rescue, but a continuous need for God's protective hand.
You might recognize a famous word hidden within this verse – a word shouted during a pivotal moment in history. What does it truly mean?
The Hebrew behind "Save us, we pray" is 'Hoshia' na,' which is the root of the word 'Hosanna.' This wasn't just a random cheer; it was a plea for deliverance and a call for God's action, often associated with festivals and important occasions. When the crowds later shouted 'Hosanna!' to Jesus as He entered Jerusalem (Matthew 21:9), they were echoing this ancient prayer, calling Him their King and desperately asking for His saving power. It reveals a deep longing for God's reign and salvation, a longing that continues today.
Is it okay to ask God for 'success'? This verse gives us a clue, and it’s not about personal gain, but about furthering His purposes.
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The second part of the verse, 'O LORD, we pray, give us success!' (or 'prosper us'), might sound like a prayer for personal wealth or fame. However, in the context of Psalm 118, which celebrates God's faithfulness and deliverance, 'success' or 'prosperity' is about the flourishing of God's people and the advancement of His kingdom. It's a prayer that God would cause His work, His reign, and His plans to advance and succeed. It's asking for the strength and favor to accomplish what He has called us to do, not for our own glory, but for His.
Understand the original words
yasha · Hebrew Verb
An urgent plea for divine intervention, deliverance, or rescue; famously echoed in the New Testament as 'Hosanna' (Hoshana).
na · Hebrew Particle (interjection)
An earnest request or petition, often directed toward God, acknowledging dependence on His favor and sovereign will.
tsalach · Hebrew Verb
To experience divine favor, breakthrough, or the successful outcome of an endeavor through God's blessing rather than human merit alone.
The cry 'Save now, we pray!' (Hosanna!) from Psalm 118 wasn't just a prayer for a king or a national leader; it became a profound messianic acclamation for Jesus himself, highlighting the psalm's anticipation of a divine King who would bring ultimate salvation and prosperity.
c. 1000 BC
David Anointed King of Israel
After unifying the tribes, David is established as king over all Israel. This marks a significant period of national consolidation and hope, for which Psalm 118 may have been celebrated.
c. 520 BC
Temple Reconstruction in Jerusalem
Following the return from Babylonian exile, the Jewish people rebuild the Second Temple. This occasion was marked by both prayers for divine favor and celebrations of God's ongoing work, echoing the sentiments of Psalm 118.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah's Prayer for Success
Nehemiah prays for God's blessing and success in his mission to rebuild Jerusalem's walls. His prayer, 'O Lord, I beseech thee... prosper now thy servant,' shares striking linguistic and thematic similarities with Psalm 118:25.
AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
During Passover week, Jesus enters Jerusalem acclaimed by crowds shouting 'Hosanna!' (meaning 'Save now!'). This event directly echoes the cry found in Psalm 118, linking the psalm to messianic hopes.
AD 60-62
Paul's Letter to the Ephesians
The Apostle Paul writes his letter to the Ephesians, likely while imprisoned. He speaks of the church as a spiritual building with Christ as the cornerstone, a theme that resonates with the psalm's celebration of building and foundational stones.
This passage directly connects Psalm 118:25, showing how the cry 'Hosanna!' (meaning 'Save us, we pray!') from the Psalms became a direct acclamation for Jesus as He entered Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 31:7This verse echoes the plea for deliverance and success, calling for God to 'save His people, the remnant of Israel,' which parallels the petition for salvation and prosperity found in Psalm 118:25.
Nehemiah 1:11Nehemiah's prayer uses the exact phrase 'prosper now your servant,' highlighting the consistent desire throughout Scripture for God's blessing and success in His people's endeavors, mirroring the request in Psalm 118:25.
Psalm 20:9This psalm offers a prayer for the king's success and is closely related thematically to Psalm 118:25, as both express a deep reliance on God for salvation and triumph.
pulpitPsalms 118:25: "Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity."
Verse 25. - Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord; or, "we beseech thee." The interjectional אנא is as suitable to the several speakers as to one. O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity; i.e. continue to save, continue to send prosperity. Israel feels its constant dependence upon God, and that if the Divine care were remitted for a day, or for an hour, all would be lost. Tears, as Professor Cheyne ob…
clarkePsalms 118:25: "Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity."
Save now, I beseech thee - These words were sung by the Jews on the feast of tabernacles, when carrying green branches in their hands; and from the הושיעה נא hoshiah nna, we have the word hosanna. This was sung by the Jewish children when Christ made his public entry into Jerusalem. See Matthew 21:9 (note), and see the note there, in which the word and the circumstance are both explained.
The repeated plea, "Save us, we pray," isn't just a request for help, but a profound acknowledgment of ongoing dependence on God. It emphasizes that "now" here isn't about a specific moment in time, but a particle of entreaty, meaning "please" or "now, I beg you," highlighting Israel's constant need for divine intervention and success.
This verse erupts from a moment of immense celebration and desperate need, likely sung as a king or a redeemed people entered Jerusalem. It's a passionate plea for God's continued deliverance and blessing, echoing the urgent cry for help that has punctuated their history. The words "Save now" and "send now prosperity" are a direct, heartfelt appeal for God to act decisively, not just in the past but right now, continuing the work He's started and ensuring future success.
This verse erupts from a moment of immense celebration and desperate need, likely sung as a king or a redeemed people entered Jerusalem. It's a passionate plea for God's continued deliverance and blessing, echoing the urgent cry for help that has punctuated their history. The words "Save now" and "send now prosperity" are a direct, heartfelt appeal for God to act decisively, not just in the past but right now, continuing the work He's started and ensuring future success.
"Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!" — The repeated plea, "Save us, we pray," isn't just a request for help, but a profound acknowledgment of ongoing dependence on God. It emphasizes that "now" here isn't about a specific moment in time,…
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Last reviewed October 2026