TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 116

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1I love Hashem* for He hears my voice, my pleas;

אאָהַבְתִּי כִּי־יִשְׁמַע יְהֹוָה אֶת־קוֹלִי תַּחֲנוּנָי׃

2for He turns His ear to me whenever I call.

בכִּי־הִטָּה אָזְנוֹ לִי וּבְיָמַי אֶקְרָא׃

3The bonds of death encompassed me; the torments of Sheol overtook me. I came upon trouble and sorrow

גאֲפָפוּנִי חֶבְלֵי־מָוֶת וּמְצָרֵי שְׁאוֹל מְצָאוּנִי צָרָה וְיָגוֹן אֶמְצָא׃

4and I invoked the name of Hashem, “Hashem, save my life!”

דוּבְשֵׁם־יְהֹוָה אֶקְרָא אָנָּה יְהֹוָה מַלְּטָה נַפְשִׁי׃

5Hashem is gracious and beneficent; our God is compassionate.

החַנּוּן יְהֹוָה וְצַדִּיק וֵאלֹהֵינוּ מְרַחֵם׃

6Hashem protects the simple; I was brought low and He saved me.

ושֹׁמֵר פְּתָאיִם יְהֹוָה דַּלּוֹתִי וְלִי יְהוֹשִׁיעַ׃

7Be at rest, once again, O my soul, for Hashem has been good to you.

זשׁוּבִי נַפְשִׁי לִמְנוּחָיְכִי כִּי־יְהֹוָה גָּמַל עָלָיְכִי׃

8You have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.

חכִּי חִלַּצְתָּ נַפְשִׁי מִמָּוֶת אֶת־עֵינִי מִן־דִּמְעָה אֶת־רַגְלִי מִדֶּחִי׃

9I shall walk before Hashem in the lands of the living.

טאֶתְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה בְּאַרְצוֹת הַחַיִּים׃

10I trust [in Hashem]; out of great suffering I spoke

יהֶאֱמַנְתִּי כִּי אֲדַבֵּר אֲנִי עָנִיתִי מְאֹד׃

11and said rashly, “All men are false.”

יאאֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי בְחָפְזִי כָּל־הָאָדָם כֹּזֵב׃

12How can I repay Hashem for all His bounties to me?

יבמָה־אָשִׁיב לַיהֹוָה כָּל־תַּגְמוּלוֹהִי עָלָי׃

13I raise the cup of deliverance and invoke the name of Hashem.

יגכּוֹס־יְשׁוּעוֹת אֶשָּׂא וּבְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה אֶקְרָא׃

14I will pay my vows to Hashem in the presence of all His people.

n'-da-RAI la-do-NAI a-sha-LAYM neg-dah NA l'-khol a-MO

ידנְדָרַי לַיהֹוָה אֲשַׁלֵּם נֶגְדָה־נָּא לְכָל־עַמּוֹ׃

116:14   I will pay my vows to Hashem

Model of the second Beit Hamikdsash at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem

God does not like liars. Time and again the Bible reminds us to heed our words, stay away from falsehood and to refrain from deception. Here, the psalmist is disgusted with liars, whom he finds everywhere (verse 11). In contrast, he intends to abide by his words and fulfill his obligations. He therefore comes to the courtyard of the Beit Hamikdash in Yerushalayim to fulfill his promises and oaths (verse 19). Only in this way can he truly bring praise to God and acknowledge all the good that He has done for him (verse 12).

15The death of His faithful ones is grievous in Hashem's sight.

טויָקָר בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָה הַמָּוְתָה לַחֲסִידָיו׃

16Hashem, I am Your servant, Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have undone the cords that bound me.

טזאָנָּה יְהֹוָה כִּי־אֲנִי עַבְדֶּךָ אֲ‍נִי־עַבְדְּךָ בֶּן־אֲמָתֶךָ פִּתַּחְתָּ לְמוֹסֵרָי׃

17I will sacrifice a thank offering to You and invoke the name of Hashem.

יזלְךָ־אֶזְבַּח זֶבַח תּוֹדָה וּבְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה אֶקְרָא׃

18I will pay my vows to Hashem in the presence of all His people,

יחנְדָרַי לַיהֹוָה אֲשַׁלֵּם נֶגְדָה־נָּא לְכָל־עַמּוֹ׃

19in the courts of the house of Hashem, in the midst of Yerushalayim. Hallelujah.

יטבְּחַצְרוֹת בֵּית יְהֹוָה בְּתוֹכֵכִי יְרוּשָׁלָ ִם הַלְלוּ־יָהּ׃