Psalm 115:18–116:9

¹⁸But we who are alive praise the Lord,

both now and forever.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 116

¹I love the Lord, because he heard my voice.

He heard my cry for his favor.

²Because he paid attention to me,

I will call out to him as long as I live.

³The ropes of death were wrapped around me.

The horrors of the grave came over me.

I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

⁴Then I called out to the Lord.

I cried out, “Lord, save me!”

⁵The Lord is holy and kind.

Our God is full of tender love.

⁶The Lord takes care of those who are as helpless as children.

When I was in great need, he saved me.

⁷I said to myself, “Be calm.

The Lord has been good to me.”

⁸Lord, you have saved me from death.

You have dried the tears from my eyes.

You have kept me from tripping and falling.

⁹So now I can enjoy life here with you

while I’m still living.