Psalm 116

I love God, because he hears me when I cry for him to help me.

He listens to me, so I will call out to him all during my life.

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.

But then I called out to God, saying, “God, I plead with you to save/rescue me!”

God is kind and does what is right; he is our God, and he acts mercifully to us.

He protects those who ◄are helpless/cannot defend themselves►; and when I thought that I would die, he saved me.

I must encourage/tell myself to ◄have inner peace/not worry any more►, because God has done very good things for me.

God 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.

So here on the earth, where people are still alive, I live knowing that God is directing me.

I continued to believe/trust in God, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted/troubled.”

Even when I was distressed/worried and said, “I cannot trust anyone,” I continued to trust in God.

So now I will tell you [RHQ] what I will offer to God, because of all the good things that he has done for me.

I will offer to him a cup of wine to thank him for saving/rescuing me.

When I am together with many [HYP] people who belong to God, I will give to him the offerings that I solemnly promised to give to him.

God is very grieved/sad when one of his people dies.

I am one of those who serve God; I serve him like my mother did. He has freed/saved me from dying (OR, from being fastened by chains).

So I will offer to him a sacrifice to thank him, and I will pray to him.

When I am together with many of [HYP] the people who belong to God, in the courtyard outside his temple in Jerusalem, I will give to him the offerings that I solemnly promised to give to him. Praise God!