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 Lordin 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 Lordfor all his goodness to me?

¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvationand call on the name of the Lord.¹⁴ I will fulfill my vows to the Lordin the presence of all his people.

¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the Lordis the death of his faithful servants.¹⁶ Truly I am your servant, Lord;I serve you just as my mother did;you have freed me from my chains.

¹⁷ I will sacrifice a thank offering to youand call on the name of the Lord.¹⁸ I will fulfill my vows to the Lordin the presence of all his people,¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the Lord—in your midst, Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord.^[a]