Psalms 116
1 I love Yahweh, because he hears me when I cry for him to help me.
I love the Lord, for he hears my voice, my pleas for mercy.
2 He listens to me, so I will call out to him all during my life.
For he has inclined his ear to me: I will call upon him as long as I live.
3 Everything around me [MET] caused me to think that I would die; I was very afraid that I would [die and go to] the place where dead people are. I was very distressed/worried and afraid. (Sheol h7585)
About me were snares of death, the anguish of Sheol was upon me: distress and sorrow were mine. (Sheol h7585)
4 [But] then I called out to Yahweh, saying, “Yahweh, I plead with you to save/rescue me!”
Then I called on the name of the Lord: ‘I beseech you, O Lord, deliver me.’
5 Yahweh is kind and does what is right; he is our God, and he acts mercifully [to us].
Gracious and just is the Lord, compassionate is our God.
6 He protects those who (are helpless/cannot defend themselves); and when I thought that I would die, he saved me.
The Lord preserves the simple; when I was drooping, he saved me.
7 I must encourage/tell myself to (have inner peace/not worry any more), because Yahweh has done very good things for me.
Be at peace, my heart, once more, for the Lord has been good to you.
8 Yahweh has saved me [SYN] from dying, and has kept/protected me from [troubles that would cause me to] cry. He has kept/protected me from stumbling.
You have rescued me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
9 [So here] on the earth, where people are still alive, I live knowing that Yahweh is [directing] me.
Before the Lord I will walk in the land of the living.
10 I continued to believe/trust [in Yahweh], even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted/troubled.”
I held fast my faith, though I said, ‘Ah me! I am sore afflicted,’
11 [Even] when I was distressed/worried and said, “I cannot trust anyone,” [I continued to trust in Yahweh].
though in my alarm I said, ‘Everyone is a liar.’
12 So now [I will tell you] [RHQ] what I will offer to Yahweh, because of all the good things that he has done for me.
What shall I render the Lord for all his bounty to me?
13 I will offer to him a cup [of wine] to thank him for saving/rescuing me.
I will lift up the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
14 When I am together with many [HYP] people who belong to Yahweh, I will give to him the offerings that I solemnly promised to give to him.
I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
15 Yahweh is very grieved/sad when one of his people dies.
Grave in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his loyal and loved ones.
16 I am one of those who serve Yahweh; I serve him like my mother did. He has freed/saved me from dying (OR, from being fastened by chains).
Ah, Lord! I am your servant, your servant, child of your handmaid. You have loosened my bonds.
17 [So] I will offer to him a sacrifice to thank him, and I will pray to him.
I will offer to you a thank-offering, and call on the name of the Lord.
18 When I am together with many of [HYP] the people who belong to Yahweh, [in the courtyard] outside his temple in Jerusalem, I will give to him the offerings that I solemnly promised to give to him. Praise Yahweh!
I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah.
