Psalms 118:17 (KJV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Psalms 118:15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

Psalms 118:16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

Psalms 118:17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

Psalms 118:18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

Psalms 118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "shall", "live", "declare", "works", and "lord". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "shall" and "live", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "The right hand of the LORD is..." into verse 18's "The LORD hath chastened me sore but...", so "shall" and "live" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "shall" and "live" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.