Psalm 116

New International Reader's Version

116 I love the Lord, because he heard my voice.
He heard my cry for his help.
²Because he paid attention to me,
I will call out to him as long as I live.

³The ropes of death were wrapped around me.
    The horrors of the grave came over me.
    I was overcome by sadness and sorrow.
⁴Then I called out to the Lord.
    I cried out, “Lord, save me!”

⁵The Lord is holy and kind.
Our God is full of tender love.
⁶The Lord takes care of those who are not aware of danger.
When I was in great need, he saved me.

⁷I said to myself, “Be calm.
The Lord has been good to me.”

⁸Lord, you have saved me from death.
    You have dried the tears from my eyes.
    You have kept me from tripping and falling.
⁹So now I can enjoy life here with you
    while I’m still living.
¹⁰I trusted in the Lord even when I said to myself,
    “I am in great pain.”
¹¹When I was terrified, I said to myself,
    “No one tells the truth.”

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

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

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