Psalm 116

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

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

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

Return to your rest, my soul,
    for the Lord has been good to you.

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

10 I trusted in the Lord when I said,
    ‘I am greatly afflicted’;
11 in my alarm I said,
    ‘Everyone is a liar.’

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

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

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

17 I will sacrifice a thank-offering to you
    and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will fulfil my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the Lord –
    in your midst, Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord.[a]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 116:19 Hebrew Hallelu Yah

Thanksgiving for Rescue from Death.

116 (A)I love the Lord, because He (B)hears
My voice and my pleas.
Because He has (C)inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.
The (D)snares of death encompassed me
And the [a]terrors of [b]Sheol [c]came upon me;
I found distress and sorrow.
Then (E)I called upon the name of the Lord:
“Please, Lord, (F)save my [d]life!”

(G)Gracious is the Lord, and (H)righteous;
Yes, our God is (I)compassionate.
The Lord watches over (J)the simple;
I was (K)brought low, and He saved me.
Return to your (L)rest, my soul,
For the Lord has (M)dealt generously with you.
For You have (N)rescued my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
And my feet from stumbling.
I shall walk before the Lord
In the [e](O)land of the living.
10 I (P)believed when I said,
“I am (Q)greatly afflicted.”
11 I (R)said in my alarm,
(S)All people are liars.”

12 What shall I (T)repay to the Lord
For all His (U)benefits [f]to me?
13 I will lift up the (V)cup of salvation,
And (W)call upon the name of the Lord.
14 I will (X)pay my vows to the Lord;
May it be (Y)in the presence of all His people!
15 (Z)Precious in the sight of the Lord
Is the death of His godly ones.
16 O Lord, [g]I surely am (AA)Your slave,
I am Your slave, the (AB)son of Your female slave,
You have (AC)unfastened my restraints.
17 I will offer You (AD)a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And (AE)call upon the name of the Lord.
18 I will (AF)pay my vows to the Lord,
May it be in the presence of all His people,
19 In the (AG)courtyards of the Lords house,
In the midst of you, (AH)Jerusalem!
[h]Praise [i]the Lord!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 116:3 Lit straits
  2. Psalm 116:3 I.e., the netherworld
  3. Psalm 116:3 Lit found me
  4. Psalm 116:4 Or soul
  5. Psalm 116:9 Lit lands
  6. Psalm 116:12 Lit upon
  7. Psalm 116:16 Or because I am
  8. Psalm 116:19 Or Hallelujah!
  9. Psalm 116:19 Heb Yah

116 I love the Lord, because he heard my voice.
    He heard my cry for his help.
Because he paid attention to me,
    I will call out to him as long as I live.

The ropes of death were wrapped around me.
    The horrors of the grave came over me.
    I was overcome by sadness and sorrow.
Then I called out to the Lord.
    I cried out, “Lord, save me!”

The Lord is holy and kind.
    Our God is full of tender love.
The Lord takes care of those who are not aware of danger.
    When I was in great need, he saved me.

I said to myself, “Be calm.
    The Lord has been good to me.”

Lord, you have saved me from death.
    You have dried the tears from my eyes.
    You have kept me from tripping and falling.
So now I can enjoy life here with you
    while I’m still living.
10 I trusted in the Lord even when I said to myself,
    “I am in great pain.”
11 When I was terrified, I said to myself,
    “No one tells the truth.”

12 The Lord has been so good to me!
    How can I ever pay him back?
13 I will bring an offering of wine to the Lord
    and thank him for saving me.
    I will worship him.
14 In front of all the Lord’s people,
    I will do what I promised him.

15 The Lord pays special attention
    when his faithful people die.
16 Lord, I serve you.
    I serve you just as my mother did.
    You have set me free from the chains of my suffering.

17 Lord, I will sacrifice a thank offering to you.
    I will worship you.
18 In front of all the Lord’s people,
    I will do what I promised him.
19 I will keep my promise in the courtyards of the Lord’s temple.
    I will keep my promise in Jerusalem itself.

Praise the Lord.

116 I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications.

Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.

The sorrows of death encompassed me, and the pains of hell got hold upon me; I found trouble and sorrow.

Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I beseech Thee, deliver my soul!”

Gracious is the Lord and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

The Lord preserveth the simple; I was brought low, and He helped me.

Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.

For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: “I was greatly afflicted.”

11 I said in my haste, “All men are liars.”

12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?

13 I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.

14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now, in the presence of all His people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

16 O Lord, truly I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant and the son of Thine handmaid; Thou hast loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.

18 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all His people,

19 in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord!