Psalm 116

¹I love the Lord

because he heard my plea for mercy,

²and listened to me.[#tn Heb “because he turned his ear to me.”]

As long as I live, I will call to him when I need help.

³The ropes of death tightened around me,[#tn Heb “surrounded me.”]

the snares of Sheol confronted me.

I was confronted with trouble and sorrow.

⁴I called on the name of the Lord ,

“Please Lord , rescue my life!”

⁵The Lord is merciful and fair;

our God is compassionate.

⁶The Lord protects the untrained;[#tn Heb “guards.” The active participle indicates this is a characteristic of the Lord.; #tn Or “the [morally] naive,” that is, the one who is young and still in the process of learning right from wrong and distinguishing wisdom from folly. See Ps 19:7.]

I was in serious trouble and he delivered me.

⁷Rest once more, my soul,[#tn Heb “return, my soul, to your place of rest.”]

for the Lord has vindicated you.

⁸Yes, Lord , you rescued my life from death,[#tn Or “for.”; #tn “Lord” is supplied here in the translation for clarification.]

and kept my feet from stumbling.

⁹I will serve the Lord[#tn Heb “walk before” (see Ps 56:13). On the meaning of the Hebrew idiom, see the notes at 2 Kgs 20:3/Isa 38:3.]

in the land of the living.

¹⁰I had faith when I said,

“I am severely oppressed.”

¹¹I rashly declared,[#tn Heb “I said in my haste.”]

“All men are liars.”

¹²How can I repay the Lord

for all his acts of kindness to me?

¹³I will celebrate my deliverance,[#tn Heb “a cup of deliverance I will lift up.” Perhaps this alludes to a drink offering the psalmist will present as he thanks the Lord for his deliverance. See v. 17.]

and call on the name of the Lord .

¹⁴I will fulfill my vows to the Lord

before all his people.

¹⁵The Lord values

the lives of his faithful followers.

¹⁶Yes, Lord ! I am indeed your servant;

I am your lowest slave.

You saved me from death.

¹⁷I will present a thank offering to you,

and call on the name of the Lord .

¹⁸I will fulfill my vows to the Lord

before all his people,

¹⁹in the courts of the Lord ’s temple,

in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord !