Psalms 116

The AIT Bible

Delivered from the Cords of Death

1I love Yahweh, because he hears my voice, my pleas for mercy.

2Because he has inclined his ear to me, I will call out throughout my days.

3The cords of death encircled me, and the constraints of Sheol found me; distress and grief I found.

4Then I called out on the name of Yahweh: ‘O Yahweh, please, deliver my life!’

5Gracious is Yahweh and righteous, and our God is compassionate.

6Yahweh guards the simple; I was brought low, and he saved me.

7Return, my life, to your rest, for Yahweh has dealt bountifully with you.

8For you have delivered my life from death, my eye from tears, my foot from stumbling.

9I will walk before Yahweh in the lands of the living.

10I believed, therefore I spoke; I myself was greatly afflicted.

11I said in my alarm, ‘Every human being is a liar.’

12What shall I return to Yahweh for all his bountiful dealings toward me?

13I will lift up the cup of salvation, and I will call out on the name of Yahweh.

14My vows to Yahweh I will fulfill, in the presence, now, of all his people.

15Precious in the eyes of Yahweh is the death of his loyal ones.

16O Yahweh, please! For I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds.

17To you I will sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call out on the name of Yahweh.

18My vows to Yahweh I will fulfill, in the presence, now, of all his people,

19in the courts of the house of Yahweh, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise Yah!

Where this passage connects across Scripture — each link typed and reasoned, part of the AIT Bible Nexus Chart.

quotation 2 Corinthians 4:13 — Paul quotes 'I believed, therefore I spoke' explicitly citing this psalm.
quoted by 2 Corinthians 4:7 — Explicit citation introduced with 'in keeping with what is written.'
allusion Exodus 34:6 — Echoes the covenant formula of Yahweh as gracious and compassionate.
allusion Psalms 18:4 — Shared distinctive imagery of the 'cords of death' and 'constraints of Sheol' encircling the psalmist.
echoed in Psalms 56:1 — Shares the specific motif of God delivering the soul from death, keeping the feet, and walking before God among the living.

allusion Psalms 86:16 — Shared self-designation as 'your servant, the son of your maidservant.'
echoed in Psalms 86:14 — Shares the distinctive self-designation as the son of God's maidservant/servant.
thematic Psalms 116:17 — Repeated vow to 'call out on the name of Yahweh' as thanksgiving response to deliverance.
thematic Psalms 72:14 — Both affirm that the life/blood of God's faithful ones is precious in his sight.
thematic Psalms 66:13 — Both express paying vows made to God in the house of the Lord in response to deliverance.
thematic Psalms 116:12 — Repeated vow to 'call out on the name of Yahweh' as thanksgiving response to deliverance.