Psalm 119 (III), I Love Your Word

The longest chapter in the Bible is an acrostic psalm, with 22 stanzas, each stanza consisting of eight lines, each line beginning with the same letter. We will examine the 176 verses across five days. The subject in all of these verses is God's Law, that is, His Mosaic Covenant with Israel.

Caroline Cobb has an album on the psalms. Her rendition of Psalm 119 is I Love Your Word.

We continue studying this psalm, in the third of four parts.

Psalm 119:81-88, Longing

>Kaph

 My soul faints with longing for your salvation, 

but I have put my hope in your word.

 My eyes fail, looking for your promise; 

I say, "When will you comfort me?"

 Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,

 I do not forget your decrees.

 How long must your servant wait? 

When will you punish my persecutors?

 The arrogant dig pitfalls for me,

 contrary to your law.

 All your commands are trustworthy; help me, 

for men persecute me without cause.

 They almost wiped me from the earth, 

but I have not forsaken your precepts.

 Preserve my life according to your love, 

and I will obey the statutes of your mouth. 

The psalmist, in these verses, longs to see God's work, even though he is weary and in need of help and salvation. Verse 84 includes a classical lament: "How long?" (or "How many?") As Alter points out, it resonates with Job's cries to God. "My life is so brief? Why does God not grant me justice...?"

Psalm 119:89-96, Eternal

>Lamedh

 Your word, O LORD, is eternal; 

it stands firm in the heavens.

 Your faithfulness continues through all generations; 

you established the earth, and it endures.

 Your laws endure to this day, 

for all things serve you.

 If your law had not been my delight, 

I would have perished in my affliction.

 I will never forget your precepts, 

for by them you have preserved my life.

 Save me, for I am yours; 

I have sought out your precepts.

 The wicked are waiting to destroy me,

 but I will ponder your statutes.

 To all perfection I see a limit; 

but your commands are boundless. 

Here we focus on eternity. God's word is eternal, it continues and endures throughout all generations. The first verse in this passage begins with Hebrew word olam ( עוֹלָם) which means "forever." In verses 90 and 91, even creation obeys God's laws; they acts as His servants. (A modern reader might read into this even the physical laws of the universe come from YHWH.) Kidner sees, in the last verse, verse 96, a summary of the book of Ecclesiastes.

Psalm 119:97-104, From You, insight and understanding

>Mem

 Oh, how I love your law! 

I meditate on it all day long.

 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,

 for they are ever with me.

 I have more insight than all my teachers,

 for I meditate on your statutes.

 I have more understanding than the elders,

 for I obey your precepts.

 I have kept my feet from every evil path 

so that I might obey your word.

 I have not departed from your laws, 

for you yourself have taught me.

 How sweet are your words to my taste, 

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

  I gain understanding from your precepts;

 therefore I hate every wrong path. 

Each of these eight verses begins with the letter mem (מ.) Two important Hebrew words begin with this letter. The Hebrew word mah (מָה) is the interrogative "what?" and leads off verses 97 and 103, where it carries the meaning "How?" The psalmist uses that word to ask "How do I love your law?" and "How sweet are your words?" The Hebrew min (מִן) means "from" and can be added as a prefix to a variety of words. It is the first part of the words that begin the other six verses. A common theme in verses 98, 99, 100 and 104 emphasize the knowledge and wisdom that follows from meditation on God's precepts.

Psalm 119:105-112, A well lit path

>Nun

 Your word is a lamp to my feet

 and a light for my path.

 I have taken an oath and confirmed it, 

that I will follow your righteous laws.

 I have suffered much; 

preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.

 Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth,

 and teach me your laws.

 Though I constantly take my life in my hands, 

I will not forget your law.

 The wicked have set a snare for me, 

but I have not strayedfrom your precepts.

 Your statutes are my heritage forever; 

they are the joy ofmy heart.

 My heart is set on keeping your decrees

 to the very end.

Verb 105 is a summary of many of the claims of this song, that the Law gives guidance to the direction of one's life. In verses 109 and 110, the law protects one from traps and risks set by the wicked.

Psalm 119:113-120, Double-minded deceit

>Samekh

 I hate double-minded men, 

but I love your law.

 You are my refuge and my shield; 

I have put my hope in your word.

 Away from me, you evildoers,

 that I may keep the commands of my God!

 Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; 

do not let my hopes be dashed.

 Uphold me, and I will be delivered;

 I will always have regard for your decrees.

 You reject all who stray from your decrees,

 for their deceitfulness is in vain.

 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross; 

therefore I love your statutes.

 My flesh trembles in fear of you; 

I stand in awe of your laws. 

The first verse in this passage seeks to move away from the seeph (סֵעֵף),that is, the "divided in mind," the "half-hearted", a term used for the skeptic or the uncommitted. 

The last three verses describe God's Word as protection from deceitfulness, evil and the dangers that accompany evil.

Psalm 119:121-128, Straight paths for the servant

>Ayin

 I have done what is righteous and just;

 do not leave me to my oppressors.

 Ensure your servant's well-being;

 let not the arrogant oppress me.

 My eyes fail, looking for your salvation,

 looking for your righteous promise.

 Deal with your servant according to your love 

and teach me your decrees.

 I am your servant; 

give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.

 It is time for you to act, O LORD; 

your law is being broken.

 Because I love your commands more than gold, 

more than pure gold,

 and because I consider all your precepts right, 

I hate every wrong path. 

In verse 123, David's eyes "pine" (Alter) for God's rescue. As often in the psalms, David is distressed at God's delay.

The last verse, like many of the Proverbs, gives a geometric image of the righteous life -- it is straight while the unrighteous one weaves and falls off the path.

We will continue with this long psalm in the next post.

Some Hebrew vocabulary

Our Hebrew word for the day is olam 

עוֹלָם

which means "forever."

First published October 16, 2025; updated October 16, 2025

Psalm 119 (II), I Love Your Word

We continue reading in Psalm 119. The longest chapter in the Bible is long acrostic, 22 stanzas, each stanza consisting of eight lines, each line in a stanza beginning with the same letter. The subject in all of these verses is God's Law, that is, His Mosaic Covenant with Israel.

Caroline Cobb has an album on the psalms. Her rendition of Psalm 119 is I Love Your Word.

Psalm 119:41-48, Freedom and confidence

>Waw

 May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD,

 your salvation according to your promise;

 then I will answer the one who taunts me,

 for I trust in your word.

 Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, 

for I have put my hope in your laws.

 I will always obey your law, 

for ever and ever.

 I will walk about in freedom, 

for I have sought out your precepts.

 I will speak of your statutes before kings

 and will not be put to shame,

 for I delight in your commands 

because I love them.

 I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love,

 and I meditate on your decrees. 

God's precepts give freedom (verse 45) and salvation (verse 41) and confidence (verse 46.) Meditation (Hebrew siach) is mentioned again in the last verse of these eight. It appeared earlier in verse 27. 

The Jewish position for prayer often included hands lifted up, whether standing or kneeling. (In 1 Kings 8:22, Solomon stands with outstretched arms.) Here, in verse 48, hands are lifted up.

The Hebrew letter  ו (waw), by itself, corresponded to the English word "and", much like y in Spanish or e in Italian. It was often used as a pronominal suffix, placed at the beginning of a word. This means that the psalmist had lots of choices for the beginning of these eight verses that beings with waw. For example, verse 41 begins wî·ḇō·’u·nî, (וִֽיבֹאֻ֣נִי) a word built on the verb bo, "to be", or "to abide", with the waw prefix ("and" or "also") and a suffix meaning "to me", so the first word of the sentence becomes "also come to me." 

Psalm 119:49-56, Comfort and hope

>Zayin

 Remember your word to your servant, 

for you have given me hope.

 My comfort in my suffering is this: 

Your promise preserves my life.

 The arrogant mock me without restraint, 

but I do not turn from your law.

 I remember your ancient laws, O LORD, 

and I find comfort in them.

 Indignation grips me because of the wicked, 

who have forsaken your law.

 Your decrees are the theme of my song 

wherever I lodge.

 In the night I remember your name, O LORD,

 and I will keep your law.

 This has been my practice:

 I obey your precepts. 

The psalmist is a stranger in this life and God's Law gives him comfort (verses 50 and 52) and hope (verse 49.) The meditation of the psalmist includes thinking on YHWH during the night.

Psalm 119:57-64, I seek your face

>Heth

 You are my portion, O LORD; 

I have promised to obey your words.

 I have sought your face with all my heart;

 be gracious to me according to your promise.

 I have considered my ways 

and have turned my steps to your statutes.

 I will hasten and not delay 

to obey your commands.

 Though the wicked bind me with ropes,

 I will not forget your law.

 At midnight I rise to give you thanks

 for your righteous laws.

 I am a friend to all who fear you,

 to all who follow your precepts.

 The earth is filled with your love, O LORD; 

teach me your decrees. 

These verses include a strong declaration of commitment, love and adoration. All who likewise follow YHWH are included as friends. Indeed, the psalmist will remember God's words even when tortured (verse 61)!

As in the previous stanza, worship during the nighttime hours is mentioned. 

Psalm 119:65-72, You are Good

>Teth

 Do good to your servant

 according to your word, O LORD.

 Teach me knowledge and good judgment,

 for I believe in your commands.

 Before I was afflicted I went astray, 

but now I obey your word.

 You are good, and what you do is good; 

teach me your decrees.

 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,

 I keep your precepts with all my heart.

 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, 

but I delight in your law.

 It was good for me to be afflicted

 so that I might learn your decrees.

 The law from your mouth is more precious to me

 than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. 

One of my favorite Hebrew words is tov (or towb) meaning "good" or "pleasant." (It appears seven times in Genesis 1.) As it begins with ט (teth, tet) it (or slight variants) is, naturally enough, the first word in verses 65, 66, 68, 71 and 72.

In verse 71, the psalmist is thankful for affliction, affliction that taught him principles from the Law.

Psalm 119:73-80, May it be

>Yodh

 Your hands made me and formed me; 

give me understanding to learn your commands.

 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, 

for I have put my hope in your word.

 I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous, 

and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

 May your unfailing love be my comfort, 

according to your promise to your servant.

 Let your compassion come to me that I may live, 

for your law is my delight.

 May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; 

but I will meditate on your precepts.

 May those who fear you turn to me, 

those who understand your statutes.

 May my heart be blameless toward your decrees,

 that I may not be put to shame. 

The Hebrew letter yod can be placed at the front of a verb as a prefix, indicating a future tense. For exsample, the verb hayah (הָיָה) means "to be" and so in verse 80, yehi, (יְהִ֣י) means "let be" or "may if be". Thus English translations of this passage often have the word "may" or "let" in verses 75-80, where the letter yod is used as a prefix.

We will continue with this long psalm in the next post.

Some Hebrew vocabulary

Our Hebrew word for the day is the verb bo, "to be", or "to abide",  

בּוֹא

First published October 16, 2025; updated October 16, 2025

Psalm 119 (I), I Love Your Word

The longest chapter in the Bible is an acrostic psalm, with 22 stanzas, each stanza consisting of eight lines, each line beginning with the same letter. We will examine the 176 verses across five days. The subject in all of these verses is God's Law, that is, His Mosaic Covenant with Israel.

Caroline Cobb has an album on the psalms. (You can find Caroline Cobb on Spotify here.) Her rendition of Psalm 119 is I Love Your Word.

Psalm 119:1-8, Law, statutes, ways

>Aleph

 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, 

who walk according to the law of the LORD.

 Blessed are they who keep his statutes 

and seek him with all their heart.

 They do nothing wrong; 

they walk in his ways.

 You have laid down precepts 

that are to be fully obeyed.

 Oh, that my ways were steadfast 

in obeying your decrees!

 Then I would not be put to shame 

when I consider all your commands.

 I will praise you with an upright heart 

as I learn your righteous laws.

 I will obey your decrees; 

do not utterly forsake me. 

The psalm begins with a promise of blessings to those who follow YHWH and obey His law. God's law is associated with righteousness. Verse 2 claims that in keeping God's laws, one then seeks Him with all their heart -- the law points to God and is not, of itself, to be worshiped. In verse 3, the concept of "wrong" (says Kidner) is that of wronging someone, of hurting someone.

Psalm 119:9-16, Help me meditate!

>Beth

 How can a young man keep his way pure? 

By living according to your word.

 I seek you with all my heart; 

do not let me stray from your commands.

 I have hidden your word in my heart 

that I might not sin against you.

 Praise be to you, O LORD; 

teach me your decrees.

 With my lips I recount all the laws

 that come from your mouth.

 I rejoice in following your statutes 

as one rejoices in great riches.

 I meditate on your precepts

 and consider your ways.

 I delight in your decrees;

 I will not neglect your word.

Verses 9 and 11 are often quoted. Verse 9 is a prayer by the young psalmist (suggests Kidner) while verse 11 emphasizes the value of memorizing and meditating on the Law. This would have been especially important in the days of the psalmist when copies of the Law would have been rare and hard to obtain. The memorization and meditation occurs again in verses 13 and 15; in verse 13 the psalmist repeats the Law out loud.

As Kidner points out, this psalm uses at least eight different synonyms for God's covenant law. The main ones are the following, which Kidner says intermingle throughout the psalm, reminding him of bellringers ringing in the changes.

• torah (NIV "law" in verse 1),
• edah (NIV "statutes" in verse 2, or "testimonies"), 
• piqqud (NIV "precepts" in verse 4), 
• choq (NIV "decrees" in verses 5 and 8z)
• mitsvah (NIV "commands" in verse 6) 
• mishpat (NIV uses "laws" again in verse 7)
• dabar (NIV uses "word" in verse 9, below)
• imrah (NIV uses "word" in verse 11)

The Hebrew seems to have more synonyms for Law than our English! In addition to these eight, we see derek (NIV "ways" in verse 3 and again in 37.)

Psalm 119:17-24, I want to see!

>Gimel

 Do good to your servant, and I will live; 

I will obey your word.

 Open my eyes that I may see 

wonderful things in your law.

 I am a stranger on earth;

 do not hide your commands from me.

 My soul is consumed with longing

 for your laws at all times.

 You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed 

and who stray from your commands.

 Remove from me scorn and contempt,

 for I keep your statutes.

 Though rulers sit together and slander me, 

your servant will meditate on your decrees.

 Your statutes are my delight;

 they are my counselors.

In verse 18, the psalmist, as he meditates, asks that God opens his eyes to see (comprehend) the full effect of that Law. The next verse expresses a similar thought, in its negative. Other parallel thoughts occur with verses 21 and 22: the arrogant stray from God's commands while the psalmist seeks to avoid such scorn; in verses 23 and 24 the psalmist contrasts counselors: rulers slander him while the Law is his true counsel.

Psalm 119:25-32, Moody and weary

>Daleth

I am laid low in the dust; 

preserve my life according to your word.

 I recounted my ways and you answered me;

 teach me your decrees.

 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; 

then I will meditate on your wonders.

 My soul is weary with sorrow; 

strengthen me according to your word.

 Keep me from deceitful ways; 

be gracious to me through your law.

 I have chosen the way of truth; 

I have set my heart on your laws.

 I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; 

do not let me be put to shame.

I run in the path of your commands, 

for you have set my heart free. 

When depressed and defeated, the psalmist begs for salvation promised in the Law. The lead verse in this sequence is then reflected in the second as the plea of the psalmist has been answered. A similar plea appears in verse 28, the fourth verse of this stanza, as the psalmist expresses sorrow. In verse 29, the psalmist pleads for gracious treatment (chanan) as he seeks to avoid deceit. In verses 30-32, the psalmist describes a sequence of choices regarding the law. He "chooses", "sets his heart", "holds fast" and "runs to" the Law. In the last verse the request for gracious treatment is answered with a heart that has been set free.

Psalm 119:33-40, Teach me!

>He

 Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; 

then I will keep them to the end.

 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law 

and obey it with all my heart.

 Direct me in the path of your commands, 

for there I find delight.

 Turn my heart toward your statutes

 and not toward selfish gain.

 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; 

preserve my life according to your word.

 Fulfill your promise to your servant, 

so that you may be feared.

 Take away the disgrace I dread, 

for your laws are good.

 How I long for your precepts!

 Preserve my life in your righteousness. 

The first four verses in this stanza as for teaching that will direct the psalmist's heart and life. The fifth asks to be directed away from worthless things. The next two suggest repentance and forgiveness while the last two lines include, once again, a declaration of joy in God's precepts.

We will continue with this long psalm in the next post.

Some Random Thoughts

It is common, in reading David's love of God's Word (or Law), to identify God's Word with all of the Old Testament scripture or even (for Christians) with both the Old and New Testaments. But David had at most the Pentateuch to study and likely far less. I can imagine David reading Leviticus and saying, "I love your word!" -- but I would struggle to understand what David is seeing in the Mosaic Law! I am so far removed from his time and culture.

First published October 16, 2025; updated October 16, 2025

Psalm 118, Open the Gates With Praise!

This is the last of six Hallel psalms (Psalms 113-118) that are recited in synagogues at various Jewish holiday (such as Passover.) Unlike the previous, this psalm does not begin or end with Hallelujah but with hō·w·ḏū, from yadah, meaning "acclaim!" or "give thanks!" This psalm most likely was sung in a festal procession, with different singers singing different parts. In some places, there is a natural call and response.

Psalm 118:1, Give thanks!

Give thanks to the LORD, 

for he is good; 

his love endures forever.

The psalm opens with an announcement that sets this as a thanksgiving song. God's love (hesed) endures for ever. This stanza also appears in Jeremiah 33:11.

Psalm 118:2-4, His love endures forever

Let Israel say: "His love endures forever."

 Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever."

 Let those who fear the LORD say: "His love endures forever."

These three lines may be a call-response, intended for different groups in the audience. If so, it is possible that the last line might include Gentile converts.

Psalm 118:5-6, Set free

In my anguish I cried to the LORD, 

and he answered by setting me free.

 The LORD is with me; 

I will not be afraid. 

What can man do to me?

"A single voice takes over from the rest," says Kidner. This single singer repeats his confidence in God. Is he a priest or a king, leading the procession to the temple?

The exclamation, "God is with me, so what can man do to me!?" appears in Psalm 56:11. In the New Testament a version appears in Hebrews 13:6 and is the underlying message of Romans 8.

Psalm 118:7-9, Take refuge in YHWH

The LORD is with me; he is my helper. 

I will look in triumph on my enemies.

 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.

 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.

The singer, whether a national leader or an individual, thanks YHWH for victory over his enemies. He knows not to trust in men or even princes, but to take refuge in YHWH.

Psalm 118:10-12, I cut them off

All the nations surrounded me, 

but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

They surrounded me on every side, 

but in the name of theLORD I cut them off.

 They swarmed around me like bees, 

but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; 

in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

Three verses build on the victory given the singer. Eahc verse ends with a triumphant claim that, in YHWH's name, the singer was victorious. The first two verses have two lines (two stichs) each; the final climactic line is three stichs, describing a supposedly overwhelming force that quickly collapsed.

Psalm 118:13-14, About to fall

I was pushed back and about to fall, 

but the LORD helped me.

 The LORD is my strength and my song; 

he has become my salvation.

The psalmist rejoices at God's help as he started to fall and affirms his salvation in YHWH. Verse 14 repeats two lines from the Song of the Sea (see the first part of Exodus 15:2.)

Psalm 118:15-16, YHWH's right hand

Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: 

"The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!

 The LORD's right hand is lifted high; 

the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"

God is praised as having a powerful "right hand." We continue to hear echoes of the Song of the Sea; see Exodus 15:6.

Psalm 118:17-18, I will not die!

I will not die but live, 

and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

 The LORD has chastened me severely, 

but he has not given me over to death.

Here the near defeat is described as a chastening.

Psalm 118:19-20, Open the gates!

Open for me the gates of righteousness; 

I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

 This is the gate of the LORD 

through which the righteous may enter.

The singer looks to enter the courts of righteousness. If this is a festal procession, the gates being opened may be literal, that is, the gates of the temple. Kidner sees in these two verses a challenge ("Open the gates!") and a response ("Through this gate the righteous enter.")

Psalm 118:21, My salvation

I will give you thanks, for you answered me; 

you have become my salvation.

The singer repeats the theme of the song, his reliance on God as his salvation.

Psalm 118:22-23, A capstone

The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;

 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

The singer, probably looking at the gorgeous temple, praises God for building something marvelous out of a rejected capstone. Presumably the singer sees himself (or the community) as something made beautiful even though originally rejected. Kidner wonders if, in this case, is is suggested that the singer's enemies have been the pillars of the community.

Verse 22 is quoted in the New Testament in Romans 9:33 and 1 Peter 2:6, Matthew 21:42, and Acts 4:11. It echoes Isaiah 8:14 and Isaiah 28:16. Despite the numerous references, it is not clear whether the stone is a foundational stone at the base of a building, getting it started, or a capstone, completing the building.

Psalm 118:24, Rejoice in the day!

This is the day the LORD has made; 

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

The singer, after noting the marvelous temple building, is excited, rejoicing in the glorious day given by YHWH

Psalm 118:25-27, To the horns of the altar

O LORD, save us; 

O LORD, grant us success.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. 

From the house of the LORD we bless you.

 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us.

With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.

Verse 25 echoes verse 21. As the procession approaches the altar, the people once again call on YHWH to give them both success and salvation. The song has suggested that this is a festal procession; now that is explicitly mentioned. The horns of the altar were most likely symbols of strength set at the corners of the altar.

There is some confusion as to the meaning of the Hebrew word aboth, translated here "boughs." It could also mean "cords", that is, ropes used to tie a sacrificial animal to the altar. But it can also mean "wreath" or "foliage." It is possible (Kidner, p. 416) that the "boughs" (or branches) offered in this procession, as the king arrives at the temple, explain the palm branches laid before Messiah Jesus as he entered Jerusalem during Passover week. (See, for example, John 12:12-13.)

Psalm 118:26-27, Thanks and exaltation

You are my God, and I will give you thanks; 

you are my God, and I will exalt you.

In this synonymous parallelism, God is first called ’ê·lî (el) and then ĕ·lō·hāy (elohim), both general words for "God".

Psalm 118:29, Yadah! Acclaim!

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; 

his love endures forever.

The psalm ends as it began, with verse 29 repeating verse 1.

First published October 27, 2025; updated October 27, 2025

Psalm 117, Hallelujah All Nations!

This is the fifth of six Hallel psalms (Psalms 113-118) that are recited in synagogues at various Jewish holiday (such as Passover.) This is the shortest chapter in the Bible, a mere two verses. Thus this blogpost is also short, about 200 words.

Psalm 117:1-2a, All nations

 Praise the LORD, all you nations; 

extol him, all you peoples.

 For great is his love toward us, 

and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. 

This very short song focuses on a global vision, calling all nations, Jews or Gentiles, to praise and thankfulness to YHWH for his eternal love and faithfulness to mankind. I am reminded of the New Testament passage, Revelation 7:9-10, that has people of every tongue and tribe worshiping God because of the actions of Messiah Jesus. Indeed, Paul quote this psalm in Romans 15:11.

The short psalm provides examples of classic parallelism. The two lines of first one repeat the emphasis on the nations praising YHWH while the next two lines build on the character of God as it relates to human beings.

Psalm 117:2b, Hallelujah

Praise the LORD.

This short Hallel psalm ends as it began, with hal·lū yāh (Hallelujah.)

First published October 25, 2025; updated October 25, 2025

Psalm 116, Cords of Death

This is the fourth of six Hallel psalms (Psalms 113-118) that are recited in synagogues at various Jewish holiday (such as Passover.) There was a partial Hallel that omits the first 11 verses of Psalms 115 and 116. This praise song is one of personal thanksgiving after a traumatic experience.

Psalm 116:1-2, Turned His ear

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; 

he heard my cry for mercy.

 Because he turned his ear to me, 

I will call on him as long as I live.

The psalmist rejoices that YHWH heard his cry and turned His ear to listen. As Alter points out, this is a thanksgiving psalm. Indeed, it will end with a thanksgiving sacrificial offering.

Psalm 116:3-4, Cords of death

 The cords of death entangled me, 

the anguish of the grave came upon me;

 I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the LORD: 

"O LORD, save me!"

The psalmist felt entangled in death, with the grave looming. A similar passage occurs in Psalm 18:3-6.

And I am reminded of Jonah's cries of despair as seaweed wrapped around him (Jonah 2.)

Psalm 116:5-7, Gracious and righteous

The LORD is gracious and righteous; 

our God is full of compassion.

 The LORD protects the simple hearted; 

when I was in great need, he saved me.

 Be at rest once more, O my soul, 

for the LORD has been good to you.

The singer describes himself as "simple hearted", that is, humble and without merit. Having been rescued from death, the he recalls God's protection and reassures himself that he can now be in peace. 

Psalm 116:8-11, Crying out

For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, 

my eyes from tears, 

my feet from stumbling,

 that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

 I believed; therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted."

 And in my dismay I said, "All men are liars."

Verse 10 begins with a simple statement, "I believed." The object of the trust is not clear but, says Alter, "is in all likelihood God." In the New Testament, Paul quotes the Septuagint version of verse 10 in 2 Corinthians 4:13. The cry of pain is made in desperation, the faith is in the cry.

In panic, the disillusioned psalmist declares that "All men are liars." Unlike Jonah's traumatic experience with drowning, here the death experience seems to have been caused by human enemies.

According to Kidner, the Greek Septuagint and later Latin Vulgate manuscripts break this psalm into two pieces, with the break at verse 10 while some ancient Hebrew manuscripts have a break at verse 11. The partial Hallel recites all six Hallel psalms (113-118) but leaves out the first 11 verses of this psalm and the previous one.

As Kidner points out, this psalm was set in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer for the mother after the safe delivery of a child. See page 191 in the pdf document here.

Psalm 116:12-15, Lifting up the cup of salvation

 How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?

 I will lift up the cup of salvation 

and call on the name of the LORD.

 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD 

in the presence of all his people.

 Precious in the sight of the LORD

 is the death of his saints.

Although the songwriter cannot fully repay God's goodness, he can make public offerings and fulfill his vows of thanksgiving.

Psalm 116:16, Son of a maidservant

 O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, 

the son of your maidservant; 

you have freed me from my chains.

A declaration of submission is make -- the psalmist is a servant, indeed the son of a servant, and rejoices at his new freedom

Psalm 116:17-19, Vows to be completed in the temple courts

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you 

and call on the name of the LORD.

 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD 

in the presence of all his people,

 in the courts of the house of the LORD-- 

in your midst, O Jerusalem. 

Three lines of verses 13 and 14 are repeated here, as a statement of commitment. These vows and sacrifices will be in public, before the people.

This psalm is a thanksgiving psalm ending with a thanksgiving offering in the temple.

Psalm 116:19b, Hallelujah

Praise the LORD. 

This Hallel psalm ends as it began, with hal·lū yāh (Hallelujah.)

First published October 24, 2025; updated October 24, 2025