116
1 I love the Lord because he listens to me, he hears my calls for help.
2 Because he pays attention to what I say I will pray to him as long as I live.
3 I was caught in the snares of death; I was trapped by terrors of the grave. All I experienced was suffering and grief.
4 Then I cried out to the Lord, “Lord, please save me!”
5 The Lord is so kind and good! Our God is so compassionate!
6 The Lord takes care of those who are powerless;* Literally, “simple.” when I was brought down he saved me.
7 I can once again be at peace because the Lord has been good to me.
8 For you have saved me from death, my eyes from crying, and my feet from stumbling.
9 Now I can walk with the Lord in the land of the living.
10 I trusted in you, so I told you, “I'm suffering terribly!”
11 I was so upset that I said, “Everyone's a liar!”
12 What can I give the Lord in return for all he's done for me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation† Thought to refer to the wine offering. and worship the Lord.
14 I will keep my promises to the Lord so everyone can see.‡ Usually understood to mean promises to make offerings as part of the sacrificial system.
15 It hurts§ “It hurts”: the word used here is “costly,” in other words the Lord suffers a loss when those who trust in him die. the Lord when those who trust in him die.* In other words, he cares deeply about those he loves and is saddened when they die.
16 Lord, I really am your slave, serving you as my mother served you before me, yet you have set me free.
17 I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to you and I will worship you.
18 I will keep my promises to the Lord so everyone can see,
19 there in the house of the Lord, right in Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
*116:6 Literally, “simple.”
†116:13 Thought to refer to the wine offering.
‡116:14 Usually understood to mean promises to make offerings as part of the sacrificial system.
§116:15 “It hurts”: the word used here is “costly,” in other words the Lord suffers a loss when those who trust in him die.
*116:15 In other words, he cares deeply about those he loves and is saddened when they die.