Psalm 116

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This article is about Psalm 116 in Hebrew (Masoretic) numbering. For Psalm 116 in Greek Septuagint or Latin Vulgate numbering, see Psalm 117 .
Psalm 116
"I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice"
Egyptian Hallel psalm
Psalms scroll.PNG
Scroll of the Psalms
Other name
  • Psalm 114
  • "Dilexi quoniam exaudiet Dominus"
  • Psalm 115
  • "Credidi propter quod locutus sum"
LanguageHebrew (original)
Psalm 116
←  Psalm 115
Psalm 117  →
Book Book of Psalms
Hebrew Bible part Ketuvim
Order in the Hebrew part1
Category Sifrei Emet
Christian Bible part Old Testament
Order in the Christian part19

Psalm 116 is the 116th psalm of the Book of Psalms, [1] beginning in English in the King James Version: "I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications". It is part of the Egyptian Hallel sequence in the Book of Psalms.

Contents

In the slightly different numbering system in the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate version of the Bible, this psalm begins with Psalm 114, counted as verses 1–9 of Psalm 116, combined with Psalm 115 for the remaining verses. In Latin, Psalm 114 is known as "Dilexi quoniam exaudiet Dominus", [2] and Psalm 115 is known as "Credidi propter quod locutus sum". [3] Psalm 116 in Hebrew is the fourth psalm in the “Egyptian Hallel”. [4] The Septuagint and Vulgate open with the word "Alleluia", whereas the Hebrew version has this word at the end of the preceding psalm. [5]

Psalm 116 is used as a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has often been set to music, including settings by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Anton Bruckner and Franz Schreker.

Language

Psalm 116 is without a title in the Hebrew. [6] The psalm was translated into the Greek Septuagint (about 250BC) in Hellenistic Egypt. There is a presence of Aramaisms in the psalm which has been interpreted by some biblical commentators as evidence of a late date, [7] although this is not definitive. The psalm draws heavily from other psalms, so much so that the German commentator Hermann Hupfeld called it a "patched-up psalm". [8]

Theme

It is a question of the praise of the Lord by all peoples. The second verse expresses the reason for the first verse: the goodness of the Lord has been experienced in the past, and his faithfulness will last forever. If we take into consideration the whole book of psalms, we see that this psalm seems to sum up and conclude all the psalms of the hallel, and even all the preceding psalms from Psalm 107 onwards, for they invite Israel and all nations to praise "Eternal".

Authorship

Theodoret in the fifth century applied this psalm to the distresses of the Jews in the times of the Maccabees under Antiochus Epiphanes, [9] [10] while a small minority ascribe it to Hezekiah's sickness, recorded in Isaiah 38; [11] Alexander Kirkpatrick notes a similarity in the wording. [12] However, most commentators today ascribe it to King David. If David were the author, it is not certain whether it was composed upon any particular occasion, [13] or "upon a general review of the many gracious deliverances God had wrought for him". [14] The Syriac Church holds it was written on the occasion of Saul coming to the cave where David was hiding. [15]

Uses

New Testament

Verse 10 of the Psalm was quoted by Paul the Apostle in 2 Corinthians 4:13. [16] [12] [17]

Judaism

The Tosher Rebbe of Montreal, Quebec, Canada shaking the four species during Sukkot while praying Hallel. Fourspecies.jpg
The Tosher Rebbe of Montreal, Quebec, Canada shaking the four species during Sukkot while praying Hallel.

Syriac Christianity

The Syriac Church applies it to converts coming into the church. [21]

Coptic Orthodox Church

In the Agpeya, the Coptic Church's book of hours, this psalm is prayed (as two consecutive psalms) in the office of None. [22] It is also in the prayer of the Veil, which is generally prayed only by monks. [23]

Catholicism

The Psalm has been used as public prayer by Pope John Paul II, who called it a "Prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord". [24] [25] The Psalm is used in the Rule of St. Benedict. [26] [27] However, Psalm 117 is now read in the Liturgy of the Hours. [28]

Protestant Christianity

Matthew Henry calls it a thanksgiving psalm, [29] while Charles Spurgeon saw it as "A Psalm of Thanksgiving in the Person of Christ". [30] David Dickson wrote, "This Psalm is a threefold engagement of the Psalmist unto thanksgiving unto God, for his mercy unto him, and in particular for some notable delivery of him from death, both bodily and spiritual."

On February 3, 1788 Anglican Minister, Reverend Richard Johnson delivered the first Christian church service ever on Australian soil to convicts of the First Fleet. The text of his sermon was Psalm 116:12-14.

City motto

Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus, Belfast city motto Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus - geograph.org.uk - 520773.jpg
Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus, Belfast city motto

The city of Belfast, Northern Ireland has as its motto Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus, the Vulgate translation of Ps 116:12 ("what shall we give in return for so much?" or "What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me?")

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz composed a metred paraphrase of Psalm 116 in German, "Meim Herzen ist's ein große Freud", SWV 214, for the Becker Psalter , published first in 1628.

A collection Angst der Hellen und Friede der Seelen ("Fear of Hell and Peace of the Soul") combines sixteen motet settings of Psalm 116 in German, "Das ist mir lieb" (That is dear to me). It was commissioned by the Jena merchant Burckhard Grossmann in 1616, and published in 1623. The composers are Heinrich Schütz, Michael Altenburg, Christoph Demantius, Nicolaus Erich, Andreas Finold, Melchior Franck, Abraham Gensreff, Johannes Groh, Johann Krause, Christian Michael, Daniel Michael, Rogier Michael, Tobias Michael, Michael Praetorius, Johann Hermann Schein and Caspar Trost. [31]

Marc-Antoine Charpentier set Psalmus David 115 (in Vulgate numbering), Credidi propter quod locutus sum, H. 209 - H. 209a, for soloists, chorus and continuo in 1690. Anton Bruckner composed a setting of the first nine verses as Psalm 114 "Alleluja! Liebe erfüllt mich", WAB 36, in 1852. Franz Schreker composed a setting of Psalm 116 for three-part women's choir and orchestra as his Op. 6 in 1900. [32]

Text

The following table shows the Hebrew text [33] [34] of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint [35] [36] and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic text come from different textual traditions. [note 1] In the Septuagint, verses 1–9 are counted as Psalm 114, and verses 10–19 are counted as Psalm 115.

#HebrewEnglishGreek
1אָ֭הַבְתִּי כִּי־יִשְׁמַ֥ע ׀ יְהֹוָ֑ה אֶת־ק֝וֹלִ֗י תַּחֲנוּנָֽי׃‎I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.᾿Αλληλούϊα. - ΗΓΑΠΗΣΑ, ὅτι εἰσακούσεται Κύριος τῆς φωνῆς τῆς δεήσεώς μου,
2כִּי־הִטָּ֣ה אׇזְנ֣וֹ לִ֑י וּבְיָמַ֥י אֶקְרָֽא׃‎Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.ὅτι ἔκλινε τὸ οὖς αὐτοῦ ἐμοί, καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις μου ἐπικαλέσομαι.
3אֲפָפ֤וּנִי ׀ חֶבְלֵי־מָ֗וֶת וּמְצָרֵ֣י שְׁא֣וֹל מְצָא֑וּנִי צָרָ֖ה וְיָג֣וֹן אֶמְצָֽא׃‎The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.περιέσχον με ὠδῖνες θανάτου, κίνδυνοι ᾅδου εὕροσάν με· θλῖψιν καὶ ὀδύνην εὗρον,
4וּבְשֵֽׁם־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֶקְרָ֑א אָנָּ֥ה יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה מַלְּטָ֥ה נַפְשִֽׁי׃‎Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.καὶ τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου ἐπεκαλεσάμην· ὦ Κύριε, ῥῦσαι τὴν ψυχήν μου.
5חַנּ֣וּן יְהֹוָ֣ה וְצַדִּ֑יק וֵ֖אלֹהֵ֣ינוּ מְרַחֵֽם׃‎Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.ἐλεήμων ὁ Κύριος καὶ δίκαιος, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν ἐλεεῖ.
6שֹׁמֵ֣ר פְּתָאיִ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה דַּ֝לֹּתִ֗י וְלִ֣י יְהוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃‎The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.φυλάσσων τὰ νήπια ὁ Κύριος· ἐταπεινώθην, καὶ ἔσωσέ με.
7שׁוּבִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי לִמְנוּחָ֑יְכִי כִּֽי־יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה גָּמַ֥ל עָלָֽיְכִי׃‎Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.ἐπίστρεψον, ψυχή μου, εἰς τὴν ἀνάπαυσίν σου, ὅτι Κύριος εὐηργέτησέ σε,
8כִּ֤י חִלַּ֥צְתָּ נַפְשִׁ֗י מִ֫מָּ֥וֶת אֶת־עֵינִ֥י מִן־דִּמְעָ֑ה אֶת־רַגְלִ֥י מִדֶּֽחִי׃‎For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.ὅτι ἐξείλετο τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐκ θανάτου, τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου ἀπὸ δακρύων καὶ τοὺς πόδας μου ἀπὸ ὀλισθήματος.
9אֶ֭תְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה בְּ֝אַרְצ֗וֹת הַחַיִּֽים׃‎I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.εὐαρεστήσω ἐνώπιον Κυρίου, ἐν χώρᾳ ζώντων.
10הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי כִּ֣י אֲדַבֵּ֑ר אֲ֝נִ֗י עָנִ֥יתִי מְאֹֽד׃‎I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:᾿Αλληλούϊα. - ΕΠΙΣΤΕΥΣΑ, διὸ ἐλάλησα· ἐγὼ δὲ ἐταπεινώθην σφόδρα.
11אֲ֭נִי אָמַ֣רְתִּי בְחׇפְזִ֑י כׇּֽל־הָאָדָ֥ם כֹּזֵֽב׃‎I said in my haste, All men are liars.ἐγὼ δὲ εἶπα ἐν τῇ ἐκστάσει μου· πᾶς ἄνθρωπος ψεύστης.
12מָה־אָשִׁ֥יב לַיהֹוָ֑ה כׇּֽל־תַּגְמוּל֥וֹהִי עָלָֽי׃‎What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?τί ἀνταποδώσω τῷ Κυρίῳ περὶ πάντων, ὧν ἀνταπέδωκέ μοι;
13כּוֹס־יְשׁוּע֥וֹת אֶשָּׂ֑א וּבְשֵׁ֖ם יְהֹוָ֣ה אֶקְרָֽא׃‎I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.ποτήριον σωτηρίου λήψομαι καὶ τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου ἐπικαλέσομαι.
14נְ֭דָרַי לַיהֹוָ֣ה אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם נֶגְדָה־נָּ֝֗א לְכׇל־עַמּֽוֹ׃‎I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.τὰς εὐχάς μου τῷ Κυρίῳ ἀποδώσω ἐναντίον παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ.
15יָ֭קָר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה הַ֝מָּ֗וְתָה לַחֲסִידָֽיו׃‎Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.τίμιος ἐναντίον Κυρίου ὁ θάνατος τῶν ὁσίων αὐτοῦ.
16אָנָּ֣ה יְהֹוָה֮ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֢י עַ֫בְדֶּ֥ךָ אֲנִי־עַ֭בְדְּךָ בֶּן־אֲמָתֶ֑ךָ פִּ֝תַּ֗חְתָּ לְמֽוֹסֵרָֽי׃‎O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.ὦ Κύριε, ἐγὼ δοῦλος σός, ἐγὼ δοῦλος σὸς καὶ υἱὸς τῆς παιδίσκης σου. διέρρηξας τοὺς δεσμούς μου,
17לְֽךָ־אֶ֭זְבַּח זֶ֣בַח תּוֹדָ֑ה וּבְשֵׁ֖ם יְהֹוָ֣ה אֶקְרָֽא׃‎I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.σοὶ θύσω θυσίαν αἰνέσεως καὶ ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου ἐπικαλέσομαι.
18נְ֭דָרַי לַיהֹוָ֣ה אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם נֶגְדָה־נָּ֝֗א לְכׇל־עַמּֽוֹ׃‎I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.τὰς εὐχάς μου τῷ Κυρίῳ ἀποδώσω ἐναντίον παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ,
19בְּחַצְר֤וֹת ׀ בֵּ֤ית יְהֹוָ֗ה בְּֽת֘וֹכֵ֤כִי יְֽרוּשָׁלָ֗͏ִם הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃‎In the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.ἐν αὐλαῖς οἴκου Κυρίου ἐν μέσῳ σου, ῾Ιερουσαλήμ.

Notable verses

This can be read as an early statement of the liar paradox. It has also been translated "I said in my fear, Every man is a liar." and "In an ecstasy of despair, I said, the whole race of man is a delusion." Some take the word חפז, (chaphaz) to denote haste or flight rather than fear. Samuel Horsley translates the verse as "an ecstasy of despair". [37]

This phrase has been used by Catholics as prophetic of the eucharist. While some see this as similar to the modern Jewish ceremony held every year in commemoration of the deliverance of their ancestors from the bondage of Egypt. Others see this portion as reference to morning drink offering in Solomon's temple under Mosaic law (Numbers 28:7), inferring the writer is now making an offering of thanks for being delivered. Others think the verse may have inspired Jesus at the Last Supper, [38] or Paul's "cup of blessing". [39]

Notes

  1. ↑ A 1917 translation directly from Hebrew to English by the Jewish Publication Society can be found here or here, and an 1844 translation directly from the Septuagint by L. C. L. Brenton can be found here and here. Both translations are in the public domain.

References

  1. ↑ Derek Kidner, Psalms 73–150, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1975), 411.
  2. ↑ Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 114 (116) Archived 2017-05-07 at the Wayback Machine medievalist.net
  3. ↑ Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 115 (116) Archived 2017-05-07 at the Wayback Machine medievalist.net
  4. ↑ William D. Barrick, Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs:The Master Musician’s Melodies. (Placerita Baptist Church, 2007).
  5. ↑ Jerusalem Bible (1966), Footnote a at Psalm 116
  6. ↑ Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. 11: Psalms, Part IV, at sacred-texts.com
  7. ↑ Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible.
  8. ↑ Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible.
  9. ↑ psalm 116 [usurped] , John Gill’s Commentary of the Whole Bible.
  10. ↑ John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible.
  11. ↑ Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. 11: Psalms, Part IV, at sacred-texts.com
  12. 1 2 Kirkpatrick, A. F. (1901). The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Vol. Book IV and V: Psalms XC-CL. Cambridge: At the University Press. p. 840. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  13. ↑ Jerome Creach, Commentary on Psalm 116
  14. ↑ Henry, M., Psalm 116, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
  15. ↑ Adam Clarkes Bible Commentary - Psalms 116]
  16. ↑ 2 Corinthians 4:13: KJV
  17. ↑ Pope John Paul II’s Commentary/Meditation on Psalm 116:10-19
  18. ↑ The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 636
  19. ↑ Jerome Creach, Commentary on Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19.
  20. ↑ The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 619
  21. ↑ John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible.
  22. ↑ "None". agpeya.org. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  23. ↑ "Veil". agpeya.org. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  24. ↑ Pope John Paul II’s Commentary/Meditation on Psalm 116:10-19.
  25. ↑ Commentary on Psalm 116.
  26. ↑ D’après le Complete Artscroll Siddur, compilation des prières juives.
  27. ↑ traduction de Prosper Guéranger, Règle de saint Benedîct, Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression 2007) p. 47,
  28. ↑ The main cycle of liturgical prayers takes place over four weeks.
  29. ↑ Psalm 116, Matthew Henry's Commentary.
  30. ↑ Charles H. Spurgeon, Psalm 116, Treasury of David.
  31. ↑ Anderson, Nicholas: Collection of Sixteen Motets on Psalm 116 Gramophone: Volume 74, September 1996
  32. ↑ Hailey, Christopher: Franz Schreker, Psalm 116, Op. 6 American Symphony Orchestra 2006
  33. ↑ "Psalms – Chapter 116". Mechon Mamre.
  34. ↑ "Psalms 116 - JPS 1917". Sefaria.org.
  35. ↑ "Psalm 114 - Septuagint and Brenton's Septuagint Translation". Ellopos. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  36. ↑ "Psalm 115 - Septuagint and Brenton's Septuagint Translation". Ellopos. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  37. ↑ Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. 11: Psalms, Part IV, footnote 378, at sacred-texts.com
  38. ↑ Luke 22:17
  39. ↑ 1 Corinthians 10:16
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