Psalm 116
1 I love the Lord, because he heard my voice.
He heard my cry for his help.
2 Because he paid attention to me,
I will call out to him as long as I live.
3 The ropes of death were wrapped around me.
The horrors of the grave came over me.
I was overcome by sadness and sorrow.
4 Then I called out to the Lord.
I cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’
5 The Lord is holy and kind.
Our God is full of tender love.
6 The Lord takes care of those who are not aware of danger.
When I was in great need, he saved me.
7 I said to myself, ‘Be calm.
The Lord has been good to me.’
8 Lord, you have saved me from death.
You have dried the tears from my eyes.
You have kept me from tripping and falling.
9 So now I can enjoy life here with you
while I'm still living.
10 I trusted in the Lord even when I said to myself,
‘I am in great pain.’
11 When I was terrified, I said to myself,
‘No one tells the truth.’
12 The Lord has been so good to me!
How can I ever pay him back?
13 I will bring an offering of wine to the Lord
and thank him for saving me.
I will worship him.
14 In front of all the Lord's people,
I will do what I promised him.
15 The Lord pays special attention
when his faithful people die.
16 Lord, I serve you.
I serve you just as my mother did.
You have set me free from the chains of my suffering.
17 Lord, I will sacrifice a thank-offering to you.
I will worship you.
18 In front of all the Lord's people,
I will do what I promised him.
19 I will keep my promise in the courtyards of the Lord's temple.
I will keep my promise in Jerusalem itself.
Praise the Lord.
116:1–19 Psalm 116 is a poem that gives thanks to God. The speaker explains why they love God. It's because God heard their cry for help and took action to save them. This psalm has many things in common with Psalm 22. First, the speaker recognises things that are true about God. This includes God being full of tender love. Second, the speaker describes how they felt when they were suffering. They were sad, terrified and in great pain. Third, the speaker trusted in God even when they were facing danger. What is different from Psalm 22 is that God has already rescued the speaker. That is why they are thanking God. They show that they are thankful in many ways. They worship God and offer a sacrifice. They tell others what God has done for them. They keep their promises to God and serve him faithfully.