Psalm 116

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

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

Everything around me 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 and afraid.

But then I called out to God, saying, "God, I plead with you to save 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; when I thought that I would die, he saved me.

I must encourage myself because God has done very good things for me.

God has saved me from dying and has kept me from troubles that would cause me to cry. He has kept me from disaster.

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

I continued to believe in God, even when I said, "I am greatly afflicted."

Even when I was distressed and said, "I cannot trust anyone," I continued to trust in God.

So now I will tell you 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 me.

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

God is very grieved when one of his people dies.

I am one of those who serves God; I serve him like my mother did. He has ended my troubles.

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

When I am together with many of 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!