Psalm 116

1I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;

he heard my cry for mercy.

2Because he turned his ear to me,

I will call on him as long as I live.

3The cords of death entangled me,

the anguish of the grave^a came upon me;

I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

4Then I called on the name of the Lord:

“O Lord, save me!”

5The Lord is gracious and righteous;

our God is full of compassion.

6The Lord protects the simplehearted;

when I was in great need, he saved me.

7Be at rest once more, O my soul,

for the Lord has been good to you.

8For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death,

my eyes from tears,

my feet from stumbling,

9that I may walk before the Lord

in the land of the living.

10I believed; therefore^b I said,

“I am greatly afflicted.”

11And in my dismay I said,

“All men are liars.”

12How can I repay the Lord

for all his goodness to me?

13I will lift up the cup of salvation

and call on the name of the Lord.

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 saints.

16O Lord, truly I am your servant;

I am your servant, the son of your maidservant^c;

you have freed me from my chains.

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, O Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord.^d