³ The cords of death^(E) entangled me,
    the anguish of the grave came over me;
    I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
⁴ Then I called on the name^(F) of the Lord:
    “Lord, save me!^(G)”

⁵ The Lord is gracious and righteous;^(H)
    our God is full of compassion.^(I)
6 The Lord protects the unwary;
    when I was brought low,^(J) he saved me.^(K)

⁷ Return to your rest,^(L) my soul,
    for the Lord has been good^(M) to you.

⁸ For you, Lord, have delivered me^(N) from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling,
⁹ 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]

²³ Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,^(A)
    give careful attention to your herds;
²⁴ for riches do not endure forever,^(B)
    and a crown is not secure for all generations.
²⁵ When the hay is removed and new growth appears
    and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
²⁶ the lambs will provide you with clothing,
    and the goats with the price of a field.
²⁷ You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
    and to nourish your female servants.