Psalms 116

1 I have loved, because YHWH hears My voice, my supplication,

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

2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, And during my days I call.

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

3 Cords of death have surrounded me, And straits of Sheol have found me, I find distress and sorrow. (Sheol h7585)

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)

4 And in the Name of YHWH I call: Ah, now, O YHWH, deliver my soul,

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

5 YHWH [is] gracious, and righteous, Indeed, our God [is] merciful,

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

6 YHWH [is] a preserver of the simple, I was low, and He gives salvation to me.

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

7 Return, O my soul, to your rest, For YHWH has conferred benefits on you.

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

8 For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, my feet from overthrowing.

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.

9 I habitually walk before YHWH In the lands of the living.

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

10 I have believed, for I speak, I have been greatly afflicted.

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

11 I said in my haste, “Every man [is] a liar.”

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

12 What do I return to YHWH? All His benefits [are] on me.

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.

13 I lift up the cup of salvation, And in the Name of YHWH I call.

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

14 Let me complete my vows to YHWH, Now, before all His people.

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.

15 Precious in the eyes of YHWH [is] the death of His saints.

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

16 Ah, now, O YHWH, for I [am] Your servant; I [am] Your servant, son of Your handmaid; You have opened my bonds.

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).

17 I sacrifice a sacrifice of thanks to You, And in the Name of YHWH I call.

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

18 Let me complete my vows to YHWH, Now, before all His people,

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!

19 In the courts of the house of YHWH, In your midst, O Jerusalem, praise YAH!