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Thanksgiving for Escaping Death

116 I love the Lord,
    because he ·listens to my prayers for help [L hears/or heard my voice, my prayer of supplication].
He ·paid attention [L extends his ear] to me,
    so I will ·call to him for help [call; pray] ·as long as I live [L in my days].
The ·ropes [cords] of death ·bound [encompass] me,
    and the ·fear [hardship; distress] of ·the grave [L Sheol; C the grave or the underworld] ·took hold of [reached; found] me.
    I ·was troubled and sad [L found distress and sadness].
Then I ·called out [prayed in] the name of the Lord.
    I said, “Please, Lord, ·save [rescue] me!”

The Lord is ·kind [gracious] and ·does what is right [righteous];
    our God is ·merciful [compassionate; Ex. 34:6–7].
The Lord ·watches over [keeps; guards] the ·foolish [immature; simpleminded];
    when I was ·helpless [brought low], he ·saved me [gave me victory].
I said to myself, “·Relax [L Return, my soul/life to your rest],
    because the Lord ·takes care of you [treats you well].”
Lord, you ·saved [rescued] me from death.
    ·You stopped my eyes from crying [L …and my eyes from tears];
    ·you kept me from being defeated [L …my feet from stumbling].
So I will walk ·with [before; in the presence of] the Lord
    in the land of the living [C as opposed to the grave].
10 I ·believed [trusted], so I said,
    “I am ·completely ruined [afflicted greatly; 2 Cor. 4:13].”
11 In my ·distress [worry] I said,
    “All people are liars [Rom. 3:4].”

12 What can I ·give [L return to] the Lord
    for all the ·good things [benefits] he has given to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation,
    and I will pray ·to [L in the name of] the Lord.
14 I will ·give the Lord what I promised [pay my vow to the Lord]
    in front of all his people.

15 The death of ·one that belongs to the Lord [his loyal ones/saints]
    is precious in his ·sight [L eyes].
16 Lord, I am your servant;
    I am your servant and the son of your female servant.
    You have ·freed me from [loosened] my chains.
17 I will give you ·an offering to show thanks to you [a thanksgiving offering],
    and I will pray ·to [L in the name of] the Lord.
18 I will ·give the Lord what I promised [pay my vow to the Lord]
    in front of all his people,
19 in the ·Temple courtyards [L courtyards of the house of the Lord]
    in your midst, Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 116

I love the Lord,(A) for he heard my voice;
    he heard my cry(B) for mercy.(C)
Because he turned his ear(D) to me,
    I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death(E) entangled me,
    the anguish of the grave came over me;
    I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
Then I called on the name(F) of the Lord:
    Lord, save me!(G)

The Lord is gracious and righteous;(H)
    our God is full of compassion.(I)
The Lord protects the unwary;
    when I was brought low,(J) he saved me.(K)

Return to your rest,(L) my soul,
    for the Lord has been good(M) to you.

For you, Lord, have delivered me(N) from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the Lord(O)
    in the land of the living.(P)

10 I trusted(Q) in the Lord when I said,
    “I am greatly afflicted”;(R)
11 in my alarm I said,
    “Everyone is a liar.”(S)

12 What shall I return to the Lord
    for all his goodness(T) to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and call on the name(U) of the Lord.
14 I will fulfill my vows(V) to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight(W) of the Lord
    is the death of his faithful servants.(X)
16 Truly I am your servant, Lord;(Y)
    I serve you just as my mother did;(Z)
    you have freed me from my chains.(AA)

17 I will sacrifice a thank offering(AB) to you
    and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will fulfill my vows(AC) to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts(AD) of the house of the Lord
    in your midst, Jerusalem.(AE)

Praise the Lord.[a]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 116:19 Hebrew Hallelu Yah