感謝拯救之恩

116 我愛耶和華,
因為祂垂聽了我的呼求和禱告。
因為祂垂聽我的祈求,
我一生都要向祂禱告。
死亡的繩索纏繞我,
陰間的恐怖籠罩我,
我被困苦和憂愁淹沒。
於是,我求告耶和華,
說:「耶和華啊,求你拯救我。」
耶和華仁慈、公義,
我們的上帝充滿憐憫。
耶和華保護心地單純的人,
危難之時祂救了我。
我的心啊,再次安寧吧,
因為耶和華恩待你。
祂救我的性命脫離死亡,
止住我眼中的淚水,
使我雙腳免於滑倒。
我要在世上事奉耶和華。
10 我相信,所以才說:
「我受盡了痛苦。」
11 我曾驚恐地說:
「人人都說謊。」
12 我拿什麼報答耶和華賜給我的一切恩惠呢?
13 我要為耶和華的拯救之恩而舉杯稱頌祂的名。
14 我要在耶和華的子民面前還我向祂許的願。

15 耶和華的眼目顧惜祂聖民的死亡。
16 耶和華啊!我是你的僕人,
是你的僕人,是你婢女的兒子。
你除去了我的鎖鏈。
17 我要向你獻上感恩祭,
呼求你的名。
18-19 我要在耶路撒冷,
在耶和華的殿中,
在耶和華的子民面前還我向祂許的願。

你們要讚美耶和華!

Thanksgiving for Rescue from Death.

116 I love the Lord, because He hears [and continues to hear]
My voice and my supplications (my pleas, my cries, my specific needs).

Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.

The cords and sorrows of death encompassed me,
And the terrors of Sheol came upon me;
I found distress and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, please save my life!”


Gracious is the Lord, and [consistently] righteous;
Yes, our God is compassionate.

[a]The Lord protects the simple (childlike);
I was brought low [humbled and discouraged], and He saved me.

Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.(A)

For You have rescued my life from death,
My eyes from tears,
And my feet from stumbling and falling.

I will walk [in submissive wonder] before the Lord
In the land of the living.
10 
I believed [and clung to my God] when I said,
“I am greatly afflicted.”(B)
11 
I said in my alarm,
“All men are liars.”

12 
What will I give to the Lord [in return]
For all His benefits toward me?
[How can I repay Him for His precious blessings?]
13 
I will lift up the cup of salvation
And call on the name of the Lord.
14 
I will pay my vows to the Lord,
Yes, in the presence of all His people.
15 
[b]Precious [and of great consequence] in the sight of the Lord
Is the death of His godly ones [so He watches over them].
16 
O Lord, truly I am Your servant;
I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid;
You have unfastened my chains.
17 
I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call on the name of the Lord.
18 
I will pay my vows to the Lord,
Yes, in the presence of all His people,
19 
In the courts of the Lord’s house (temple)—
In the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 116:6 In Jewish tradition this became a common saying to explain how some people could do ill-advised things and not suffer for them.
  2. Psalm 116:15 The ancient rabbis interpreted this verse to mean that it is hard for God to declare death upon the righteous.

Thanksgiving for Escaping Death

116 I love the Lord because he listens
    to my prayers for help.
He paid attention to me.
    So I will call to him for help as long as I live.
The ropes of death bound me.
    The fear of death took hold of me.
    I was troubled and sad.
Then I called out the name of the Lord.
    I said, “Please, Lord, save me!”

The Lord is kind and does what is right.
    Our God is merciful.
The Lord watches over the foolish.
    When I was helpless, he saved me.
I said to myself, “Relax,
    because the Lord takes care of you.”
Lord, you have saved me from death.
    You have stopped my eyes from crying.
    You have kept me from being defeated.
So I will walk with the Lord
    in the land of the living.
10 I believed, so I said,
    “I am completely ruined.”
11 In my distress I said,
    “All people are liars.”

12 What can I give the Lord
    for all the good things he has given to me?
13 I will give him a drink offering for saving me.
    And I will pray to the Lord.
14 In front of all his people,
    I will give the Lord what I promised.

15 The death of one that belongs to him
    is precious to the Lord.
16 Lord, I am your servant.
    I am your servant and the son of your female servant.
    You have freed me from my chains.
17 I will give an offering to show thanks to you.
    And I will worship the Lord.
18 In front of all his people,
    I will give the Lord what I promised.
19 I will do this in the Temple courtyards
    in Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 116

I love the Lord,(A) for he heard my voice;
    he heard my cry(B) for mercy.(C)
Because he turned his ear(D) to me,
    I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death(E) entangled me,
    the anguish of the grave came over me;
    I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
Then I called on the name(F) of the Lord:
    Lord, save me!(G)

The Lord is gracious and righteous;(H)
    our God is full of compassion.(I)
The Lord protects the unwary;
    when I was brought low,(J) he saved me.(K)

Return to your rest,(L) my soul,
    for the Lord has been good(M) to you.

For you, Lord, have delivered me(N) from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the Lord(O)
    in the land of the living.(P)

10 I trusted(Q) in the Lord when I said,
    “I am greatly afflicted”;(R)
11 in my alarm I said,
    “Everyone is a liar.”(S)

12 What shall I return to the Lord
    for all his goodness(T) to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and call on the name(U) of the Lord.
14 I will fulfill my vows(V) to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight(W) of the Lord
    is the death of his faithful servants.(X)
16 Truly I am your servant, Lord;(Y)
    I serve you just as my mother did;(Z)
    you have freed me from my chains.(AA)

17 I will sacrifice a thank offering(AB) to you
    and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will fulfill my vows(AC) to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts(AD) of the house of the Lord
    in your midst, Jerusalem.(AE)

Praise the Lord.[a]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 116:19 Hebrew Hallelu Yah