Psalm 116

Contemporary English Version

When the Lord Saves You from Death

¹I love you, Lord!
    You answered my prayers.
²You paid attention to me,
and so I will pray to you
    as long as I live.
³Death attacked from all sides,
and I was captured
    by its painful chains.
But when I was really hurting,
⁴I prayed and said, “Lord,
    please don't let me die!”

⁵You are kind, Lord,
    so good and merciful.
⁶You protect ordinary people,
and when I was helpless,
    you saved me
⁷and treated me so kindly
that I don't need
    to worry anymore.

⁸You, Lord, have saved
    my life from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling.
⁹Now I will walk at your side
    in this land of the living.
¹⁰^(A) I was faithful to you
    when I was suffering,
¹¹though in my confusion I said,
    “I can't trust anyone!”

¹²What must I give you, Lord,
    for being so good to me?
¹³I will pour out an offering
    of wine to you,
and I will pray in your name
because you
    have saved me.
¹⁴I will keep my promise to you
    when your people meet.
¹⁵You are deeply concerned
when one of your loyal people
    faces death.

¹⁶I worship you, Lord,
    just as my mother did,
and you have rescued me
    from the chains of death.
¹⁷I will offer you a sacrifice
to show how grateful I am,
    and I will pray.
¹⁸I will keep my promise to you
    when your people
¹⁹gather at your temple
in Jerusalem.
    Shout praises to the Lord!