I Love the LORD
Psalm 116 summary: what it means
Psalm 116 is a personal thank you. It begins with a plain statement, I love the LORD, and the reason: he listens. The speaker then tells the story. The cords of death surrounded them and the pains of Sheol took hold, so they called on the LORD's name and he saved them. The speaker tells their own soul to return to rest, because the LORD has dealt bountifully with them.
The second half asks how to repay God, and the answer is to keep receiving: take the cup of salvation and keep calling on his name. Vows are paid in public, in the courts of the LORD's house in Jerusalem. Verse 15 says the death of God's saints is precious in his sight, and the psalm ends with praise the LORD.
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Psalm 116: I Love the LORD
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-116
Psalm 116 commentary: explained verse by verse
I love the LORD, because he listens to my voice,and my cries for mercy.
I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
The psalm opens with love as a response. The speaker loves the LORD because he listens to their voice and their cries for mercy.
Also read Psalm 119:132, Psalm 40:1, 1 John 4:19, John 16:24
Because he has turned his ear to me,therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
Being heard leads to a lifelong decision. Because God turned his ear to the speaker, they will call on him as long as they live.
Also read Colossians 4:2, Psalm 145:18-19, Job 27:10, Philippians 4:6
The cords of death surrounded me,the pains of Sheol got a hold of me.I found trouble and sorrow.
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
Here the speaker describes the danger. Death is pictured as cords wrapped around them and Sheol as pains that got hold of them, bringing trouble and sorrow.
Also read Psalm 88:6-7, Psalm 38:6, Isaiah 53:3-4, Luke 22:44
Then I called on the LORD’s name:“LORD, I beg you, deliver my soul.”
Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
Also read Psalm 18:6, John 2:2, Isaiah 38:1-3, Psalm 30:7-8
The LORD is gracious and righteous.Yes, our God is merciful.
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
The speaker stops to describe God. He is gracious, righteous and merciful, and the verse moves from the speaker's own story to our God.
Also read Psalm 86:5, Romans 5:20-21, Daniel 9:7, Ezra 9:15
The LORD preserves the simple.I was brought low, and he saved me.
The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.
The LORD is said to preserve the simple. The speaker places themself in that group: I was brought low, and he saved me.
Also read Psalm 79:8, Isaiah 35:8, 2 Corinthians 11:3, Psalm 142:6
Return to your rest, my soul,for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.
Also read Jeremiah 6:16, Psalm 13:6, Hosea 2:7, Psalm 119:17
For you have delivered my soul from death,my eyes from tears,and my feet from falling.
For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
The rescue is described in three parts: the soul from death, the eyes from tears and the feet from falling. It reaches life itself, grief, and each next step.
Also read Psalm 56:13, Judges 1:24, Psalm 49:15, Psalm 94:18
I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
The response to rescue is a way of living. The speaker will walk before the LORD in the land of the living, the opposite of the Sheol of verse 3.
Also read Genesis 17:1, Isaiah 53:8, Psalm 27:13, Psalm 61:7
I believed, therefore I said,“I was greatly afflicted.”
I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
The speaker kept believing even while saying I was greatly afflicted. Faith and complaint sit together in the same sentence.
Also read Hebrews 11:1, 2 Peter 1:16, 2 Corinthians 4:13, Numbers 14:6-9
I said in my haste,“All people are liars.”
I said in my haste, All men are liars.
In haste, the speaker said that all people are liars. The psalm records it honestly as something said in a hurry.
Also read Psalm 62:9, 2 Kings 4:16, 1 Samuel 27:1, Psalm 31:22
What will I give to the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
This is the question of the second half: what can the speaker give the LORD for all his benefits. The following verses answer it.
Also read Isaiah 6:5-8, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 1 Corinthians 6:20, Romans 12:1
I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the LORD’s name.
I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
The first answer is to take the cup of salvation and call on the LORD's name. The way to repay God is to go on receiving from him and calling on him.
Also read Luke 22:17-18, Psalm 105:1, Psalm 116:2, 1 Corinthians 11:25-27
I will pay my vows to the LORD,yes, in the presence of all his people.
I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
Also read Psalm 56:12, Jonah 1:16, Psalm 66:13-15, Psalm 22:25
Precious in the LORD’s sight is the death of his saints.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
The death of God's saints is precious in his sight. In a psalm about being saved from death, the verse says that the death of his faithful people is not a small thing to him. The KJV reads: Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Also read Psalm 72:14, Psalm 37:32-33, Job 5:26, 1 Samuel 25:29
LORD, truly I am your servant.I am your servant, the son of your servant girl.You have freed me from my chains.
O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
Also read 2 Chronicles 33:11-13, Romans 6:22, Acts 27:23, Psalm 143:12
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving,and will call on the LORD’s name.
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
Verse 12 asked what the writer could give back to the LORD, and this is part of the answer: a sacrifice of thanksgiving. He also promises again to call on the LORD's name, as he did in verse 4 when he was in trouble. The KJV reads I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
Also read Psalm 107:22, Psalm 116:13, Hebrews 13:15, Acts 2:42
I will pay my vows to the LORD,yes, in the presence of all his people,
I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,
Also read Ecclesiastes 5:5, Psalm 116:14, Psalm 76:11, Psalm 22:25
in the courts of the LORD’s house,in the middle of you, Jerusalem.Praise the LORD!
In the courts of the LORD’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
Also read Psalm 122:3-4, Psalm 100:4, Psalm 118:19-20, Psalm 135:2
A prayer from Psalm 116
LORD, I love you, because you listen to my voice and my cries for mercy. You have turned your ear to me, so I will call on you as long as I live. When trouble and sorrow took hold of me, I called on your name and begged you to deliver my soul. You are gracious, righteous and merciful. Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. What will I give you for all your benefits to me? I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on your name. Truly I am your servant. Amen.
Psalm 116 Bible study questions
- In verse 3, how does the writer describe the trouble he was in, and what does he do about it in verse 4?
- In verses 12 to 14, what question does the writer ask, and what three things does he say he will do?
- Verse 7 has the writer speak to his own soul and tell it to rest: when might that kind of self talk be helpful?
- Verse 11 admits something the writer said in haste: why might a psalm of thanks include an honest word like that?
- Psalm 50:14 also speaks of offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving and paying vows: how does it shed light on Psalm 116:17?
Questions about Psalm 116
Who wrote Psalm 116?
The psalm has no heading and does not name its author. It is written in the first person by someone who was rescued from death.
What does Psalm 116:15 mean?
It says the death of God's saints is precious in his sight, meaning the death of his faithful people matters to him and is not treated lightly.
What does Psalm 116 mean?
It is a thanksgiving psalm from someone who called on the LORD when death closed in and was saved. They respond with love, a promise to keep calling on him, and vows paid in public.
What does Psalm 116:12 mean?
The speaker asks what they can give the LORD for all his benefits. The next verse answers: take the cup of salvation and call on his name.
What does Psalm 116:6 mean?
It says the LORD preserves the simple, and the speaker counts themself among them: "I was brought low, and he saved me."
What is the cup of salvation in Psalm 116?
The psalm does not explain the phrase. In verse 13, taking the cup of salvation is part of the speaker's answer to how they can repay God, together with calling on his name.
Psalm 116 KJV: the King James Version
I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.1
Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.2
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.3
Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.4
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.5
The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.6
Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.7
For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.8
I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.9
I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:10
I said in my haste, All men are liars.11
What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?12
I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.13
I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.14
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.15
O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.16
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.17
I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,18
In the courts of the LORD’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.19
Psalm 116 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 אָ֭הַבְתִּי כִּֽי־יִשְׁמַ֥ע ׀ יְהוָ֑ה אֶת־ק֝וֹלִ֗י תַּחֲנוּנָֽי׃
2 כִּֽי־הִטָּ֣ה אָזְנ֣וֹ לִ֑י וּבְיָמַ֥י אֶקְרָֽא׃
3 אֲפָפ֤וּנִי ׀ חֶבְלֵי־מָ֗וֶת וּמְצָרֵ֣י שְׁא֣וֹל מְצָא֑וּנִי צָרָ֖ה וְיָג֣וֹן אֶמְצָֽא׃
4 וּבְשֵֽׁם־יְהוָ֥ה אֶקְרָ֑א אָנָּ֥ה יְ֝הוָ֗ה מַלְּטָ֥ה נַפְשִֽׁי׃
5 חַנּ֣וּן יְהֹוָ֣ה וְצַדִּ֑יק וֵ֖אלֹהֵ֣ינוּ מְרַחֵֽם׃
6 שֹׁמֵ֣ר פְּתָאיִ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה דַּ֝לּוֹתִ֗י וְלִ֣י יְהוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
7 שׁוּבִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי לִמְנוּחָ֑יְכִי כִּֽי־יְ֝הוָ֗ה גָּמַ֥ל עָלָֽיְכִי׃
8 כִּ֤י חִלַּ֥צְתָּ נַפְשִׁ֗י מִ֫מָּ֥וֶת אֶת־עֵינִ֥י מִן־דִּמְעָ֑ה אֶת־רַגְלִ֥י מִדֶּֽחִי׃
9 אֶ֭תְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה בְּ֝אַרְצ֗וֹת הַֽחַיִּֽים׃
10 הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי כִּ֣י אֲדַבֵּ֑ר אֲ֝נִ֗י עָנִ֥יתִי מְאֹֽד׃
11 אֲ֭נִי אָמַ֣רְתִּי בְחָפְזִ֑י כָּֽל־הָאָדָ֥ם כֹּזֵֽב׃
12 מָֽה־אָשִׁ֥יב לַיהוָ֑ה כָּֽל־תַּגְמוּל֥וֹהִי עָלָֽי׃
13 כּוֹס־יְשׁוּע֥וֹת אֶשָּׂ֑א וּבְשֵׁ֖ם יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָֽא׃
14 נְ֭דָרַי לַיהוָ֣ה אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם נֶגְדָה־נָּ֝֗א לְכָל־עַמּֽוֹ׃
15 יָ֭קָר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה הַ֝מָּ֗וְתָה לַחֲסִידָֽיו׃
16 אָֽנָּ֣ה יְהוָה֮ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֪י עַ֫בְדֶּ֥ךָ אֲֽנִי־עַ֭בְדְּךָ בֶּן־אֲמָתֶ֑ךָ פִּ֝תַּ֗חְתָּ לְמוֹסֵרָֽי׃
17 לְֽךָ־אֶ֭זְבַּח זֶ֣בַח תּוֹדָ֑ה וּבְשֵׁ֖ם יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָֽא׃
18 נְ֭דָרַי לַיהוָ֣ה אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם נֶגְדָה־נָּ֝֗א לְכָל־עַמּֽוֹ׃
19 בְּחַצְר֤וֹת ׀ בֵּ֤ית יְהוָ֗ה בְּֽת֘וֹכֵ֤כִי יְֽרוּשָׁלִָ֗ם הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ ׃
Psalm 116 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 114 and Psalm 115 there.
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114:1 I have loved, because the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer.
114:2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me: and in my days I will call upon him.
114:3 The sorrows of death have encompassed me: and the perils of hell have found me. I met with trouble and sorrow:
114:4 And I called upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, deliver my soul.
114:5 The Lord is merciful and just, and our God sheweth mercy.
114:6 The Lord is the keeper of little ones: I was little and he delivered me.
114:7 Turn, O my soul, into thy rest: for the Lord hath been bountiful to thee.
114:8 For he hath delivered my soul from death: my eyes from tears, my feet from falling.
114:9 I will please the Lord in the land of the living.
115:1 I have believed, therefore have I spoken; but I have been humbled exceedingly.
115:2 I said in my excess: Every man is a liar.
115:3 What shall I render to the Lord, for all the things he hath rendered unto me?
115:4 I will take the chalice of salvation; and I will call upon the name of the Lord.
115:5 I will pay my vows to the Lord before all his people:
115:6 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
115:7 O Lord, for I am thy servant: I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid. Thou hast broken my bonds:
115:8 I will sacrifice to thee the sacrifice of praise, and I will call upon the name of the Lord.
115:9 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people:
115:10 In the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.
Psalm 116 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 114 and Psalm 115.
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114:1 Alleluja. Dilexi, quoniam exaudiet Dominus vocem orationis meæ.
114:2 Quia inclinavit aurem suam mihi, et in diebus meis invocabo.
114:3 Circumdederunt me dolores mortis; et pericula inferni invenerunt me. Tribulationem et dolorem inveni,
114:4 et nomen Domini invocavi: o Domine, libera animam meam.
114:5 Misericors Dominus et justus, et Deus noster miseretur.
114:6 Custodiens parvulos Dominus; humiliatus sum, et liberavit me.
114:7 Convertere, anima mea, in requiem tuam, quia Dominus benefecit tibi:
114:8 quia eripuit animam meam de morte, oculos meos a lacrimis, pedes meos a lapsu.
114:9 Placebo Domino in regione vivorum.
115:1 Alleluja. Credidi, propter quod locutus sum; ego autem humiliatus sum nimis.
115:2 Ego dixi in excessu meo: Omnis homo mendax.
115:3 Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quæ retribuit mihi?
115:4 Calicem salutaris accipiam, et nomen Domini invocabo.
115:5 Vota mea Domino reddam coram omni populo ejus.
115:6 Pretiosa in conspectu Domini mors sanctorum ejus.
115:7 O Domine, quia ego servus tuus; ego servus tuus, et filius ancillæ tuæ. Dirupisti vincula mea:
115:8 tibi sacrificabo hostiam laudis, et nomen Domini invocabo.
115:9 Vota mea Domino reddam in conspectu omnis populi ejus;
115:10 in atriis domus Domini, in medio tui, Jerusalem.
Printable Psalm 116: free, large print and PDF
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Psalm 116 at a glance
| Verses | 19 |
| Heading in the text | No heading |
| Attributed to | Not named in the text. The psalm has no heading. |
| Type | Thanksgiving |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalms 114 and 115 (split in two there) |
Read Psalm 116 when you are facing
thanksgivingdeliverancedeath of a loved one
Psalm 116 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 116 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 116 belongs
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source