PSALM 116

    ¹I love the LORD, for He has heard

          my voice, my supplications.

    ²For He has inclined His ear to me

          when in my days I called.

    ³The cords of death encircled me—

          and the straits of Sheol found me—

              distress and sorrow did I find.

    ⁴And in the name of the LORD I called.

          “LORD, pray, save my life.”

    ⁵Gracious the LORD and just,

          and our God shows mercy.

    ⁶The LORD protects the simple.

          I plunged down, but me He did rescue.

    ⁷Return, my being, to your calm,

          for the LORD has requited you.

    ⁸For You freed me from death,

          my eyes from tears,

              my foot from slipping.

    ⁹I shall walk before the LORD

          in the lands of the living.

    ¹⁰I trusted, though I did speak—

          Oh, I was sorely afflicted—

    ¹¹I in my rashness said,

          “All humankind is false.”

    ¹²What can I give back to the LORD

          for all He requited to me?

    ¹³The cup of rescue I lift

          and in the name of the LORD I call.

    ¹⁴My vows to the LORD I shall pay

          in the sight of all His people.

    ¹⁵Precious in the eyes of the LORD

          is the death of His faithful ones.

    ¹⁶I beseech You, LORD,

          for I am Your servant.

    I am Your servant, Your handmaiden’s son.

          You have loosed my bonds.

    ¹⁷To You I shall offer a thanksgiving sacrifice

          and in the name of the LORD I shall call.

    ¹⁸My vows to the LORD I shall pay

          in the sight of all His people,

    ¹⁹in the courts of the house of the LORD,

          in the midst of Jerusalem.

              Hallelujah.