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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.

116 I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my prayers.

For He has inclined His ear to me, when I called in my days.

The snares of death surrounded me and the griefs of the grave caught me. I found trouble and sorrow.

Then I called upon the Name of the LORD, “I implore You, O LORD, deliver my soul!”

The LORD is merciful and righteous; and our God is full of compassion.

The LORD preserves the simple. I was in misery and He saved me.

Return to your rest, O my soul; for the LORD has been beneficial to you.

For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

I shall walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

10 I believed. Therefore, I spoke. I was very troubled.

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

12 What shall I render to 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 to the LORD even now, in the presence of all His people.

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

16 Behold, LORD, for I am Your servant. I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid. You have broken my bonds.

17 I will offer a sacrifice of praise to You and will call upon the Name of the LORD.

18 I will pay my vows to the LORD even now, in the presence of all His people,

19 In the courts of the LORD’s house, even in the midst of You, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!