¹I love the Lord because he heard my plea for mercy²and listened to me. As long as I live, I will call to him when I need help.³The ropes of death tightened around me, the snares of Sheol confronted me. I was confronted with trouble and sorrow. ⁴I called on the name of the Lord, “Please, Lord, rescue my life!” ⁵The Lord is merciful and fair; our God is compassionate. ⁶The Lord protects the untrained; I was in serious trouble and he delivered me.⁷Rest once more, my soul, for the Lord has vindicated you.⁸Yes, Lord, you rescued my life from death, kept my eyes from tears and my feet from stumbling. ⁹I will serve the Lord in the land of the living. ¹⁰I had faith when I said, “I am severely oppressed.” ¹¹I rashly declared, “All men are liars.” ¹²How can I repay the Lord for all his acts of kindness to me?¹³I will celebrate my deliverance and call on the name of the Lord. ¹⁴I will fulfill my vows to the Lord before all his people. ¹⁵The Lord values the lives of his faithful followers. ¹⁶Yes, Lord! I am indeed your servant; I am your servant, the son of your female servant. You saved me from death.¹⁷I will present a thank offering to you, and call on the name of the Lord. ¹⁸I will fulfill my vows to the Lord before all his people, ¹⁹in the courts of the Lord’s temple, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!