Psalms 116

I love the Lord, for he heard me

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.a ²Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.b ³The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow.

⁴Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!” ⁵The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. ⁶The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me.

⁷Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.c ⁸For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,d ⁹that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

¹⁰I trusted in the Lord when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”;e ¹¹in my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.” ¹²What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?f

¹³I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.g ¹⁴I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. ¹⁵Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.h

¹⁶Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.i ¹⁷I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. ¹⁸I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, ¹⁹in the courts of the house of the Lord— in your midst, Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.