The big picture
Psalms 116 opens in verse 1 with “I love the LORD , because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 10 with “I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:”, and closes in verse 19 with “In the courts of the LORD’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, call, death, name, soul. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 19Psalms 116:1-7
1–7: I love the LORD , because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
Psalms 116:1–7 opens with “I love the LORD , because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.” and reaches “Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, soul, beseech.
Context that brings the passage to life
“I love the LORD , because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, love, supplications. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 116:1-7
King James Version1I love the LORD , because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
2Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
3The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
4Then called I upon the name of the LORD ; O LORD , I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
5Gracious is the LORD , and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
6The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.
7Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.
Psalms 116:8-14
8–14: For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my…
Psalms 116:8–14 opens with “For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.” and reaches “I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, afflicted, believed.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
Psalms 116:8-14
King James Version8For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
9I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
10I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
11I said in my haste, All men are liars.
12What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
13I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD .
14I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
Psalms 116:15-19
15–19: Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Psalms 116:15–19 opens with “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” and reaches “In the courts of the LORD’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD .” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, servant, bonds.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Naming Precious keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 116:15-19
King James Version15Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
16O LORD , truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
17I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD .
18I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,
19In the courts of the LORD’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD .
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 116:1 begins with “I love the LORD , because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 116:12 forms a natural hinge: “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?”
The final note
Psalms 116:19 leaves the reader with “In the courts of the LORD’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD .”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, call, death, name, soul, people help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.