Psalm 116

 

I love Yahweh

    because Yahweh has heard my plea for grace.

He inclined his ear to me;

    and in all my days I will proclaim:

 

"The cords of death encircled me;

    the snares of Sheol found me;

    I discovered trouble and sorrow.

I called on the name of Yahweh,

    'Dear Yahweh, give me back my life.'"

 

Yahweh is gracious and righteous;

    Our God is full of motherly compassion.

Yahweh attends to those who are simple;

    so when I was down and out, he gave me victory.

 

Go back to a state of equilibrium, I said to myself;

    for Yahweh has dealt bountifully with you.

For you delivered my life from death,

    my eye from tears,

    my feet from stumbling.

 

I will walk before Yahweh in the land of the living!

    I kept the faith even when I said, "I am suffering greatly."

 

I said in my panic: 

    "All people are deceptive."

 

What should I give back to Yahweh

    for all his benefits to me?

I will raise the victory cup,

    and proclaim the name of Yahweh.

 

I will pay my vows to Yahweh

     in the presence of all his people.

How costly in Yahweh's eyes

    is the death of faithful people.

 

Dear Yahweh, I am your servant,

     I am your servant,

the child of my mother who is also your servant;

    yet you have freed me from my chains!

 

To you I will offer a thanksgiving sacrifice

    and I will proclaim the name of Yahweh.

I will pay off my vows to Yahweh

in the presence of all his people,

 

in the courts of Yahweh’s temple,

    in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Praise be to Yahweh!