What does Psalm 118:11 mean?

This poetically repeats the point of the prior verse (Psalm 118:10). Israel—through the psalmist—celebrates defeating enemy nations. This might refer to early conquest in Canaan (Judges 3:30; 4:24; 8:28), Israeli kings and their successes (1 Samuel 17:51; 23:5; 30:18; 2 Samuel 5:25), or the defense of a rebuilt Jerusalem after the exile (Nehemiah 4:14; 6:16). The song is written as if the song leader prompts the congregation, who reply with the repeated phrase.

The "cutting off" action is in imperfect tense, meaning it suggests something incomplete or ongoing. But some translations place it in the future. It's possible that the psalmist is looking ahead to greater victories and uses this phrasing to speak as if the Lord has already accomplished those feats.

Sometimes believers seem to be in a hopeless situation, surrounded by trials and persecutors. But nothing looks hopeless to the believer who looks up instead of around. The apostle Paul told the Corinthian church that he and his coworkers were "afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8–9). Nevertheless, Paul's trust and hope were firmly anchored in the Lord (2 Corinthians 4:16–18). In 2 Thessalonians 2:16 he ascribed praise to the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father for providing "eternal comfort and good hope through grace."