Psalm 116

1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.

2 Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.

4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“ Lord, save me!”

5 The Lord is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.

6 The Lord protects the unwary;
when I was brought low, he saved me.

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

8 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,

9 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 fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of those faithful to him.

16 Truly I am your servant, Lord;
I am your servant, as was my mother before me;
you have loosed my bonds of affliction.

17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the Lord.

18 I will fulfill 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.

PSALMS 116

When the [Lord] Saves You //from Death

1 I love you, [Lord]!
You answered my prayers.

2 You paid attention to me,
and so I will pray to you
as long as I live.

3 Death attacked from all sides,
and I was captured
by its painful chains.
But when I was really hurting,

4 I prayed and said, “[Lord],
please don't let me die!”

5 You are kind, [Lord],
so good and merciful.

6 You protect ordinary people,
and when I was helpless,
you saved me

7 and treated me so kindly
that I don't need
to worry anymore.

8 You, [Lord], have saved
my life from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.

9 Now I will walk at your side
in this land of the living.

10  t I was faithful to you
when I was suffering,

11 though in my confusion I said,
“I can't trust anyone!”

12 What must I give you, [Lord],
for being so good to me?

13 I will pour out an offering
of wine to you,
and I will pray in your name
because you
have saved me.

14 I will keep my promise to you
when your people meet.

15 You are deeply concerned
when one of your loyal people
faces death.

16 I worship you, [Lord],
just as my mother did,
and you have rescued me
from the chains of death.

17 I will offer you a sacrifice
to show how grateful I am,
and I will pray.

18 I will keep my promise to you
when your people

19 gather at your temple
in Jerusalem.
Shout praises to the [Lord]!