Psalm 116

1I love the Lord because he hears my voice

and my prayer for mercy.

2Because he bends down to listen,

I will pray as long as I have breath!

3Death wrapped its ropes around me;

the terrors of the grave* overtook me.

I saw only trouble and sorrow.

4Then I called on the name of the Lord:

“Please, Lord, save me!”

5How kind the Lord is! How good he is!

So merciful, this God of ours!

6The Lord protects those of childlike faith;

I was facing death, and he saved me.

7Let my soul be at rest again,

for the Lord has been good to me.

8He has saved me from death,

my eyes from tears,

my feet from stumbling.

9And so I walk in the Lord’s presence

as I live here on earth!

10I believed in you, so I said,

“I am deeply troubled, Lord.”

11In my anxiety I cried out to you,

“These people are all liars!”

12What can I offer the Lord

for all he has done for me?

13I will lift up the cup of salvation

and praise the Lord’s name for saving me.

14I will keep my promises to the Lord

in the presence of all his people.

15The Lord cares deeply

when his loved ones die.

16O Lord, I am your servant;

yes, I am your servant, born into your household;

you have freed me from my chains.

17I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving

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 house of the Lord

in the heart of Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!