Psalm 116 (Dilexi, quoniam)

The Lord receaves my cry,
And me good eare doth give;
Then love him still will I,
And praise him while I live.
Fast bound in bonds of death,
With deadly anguish thralled,
When grief nigh stopt my breath,
Upon his name I called.

I call'd, and thus I said:
O Lord my bands unbind.
I found him prone to aid,
I found him just and kind:
The simples surest guard,
By me of right esteem'd:
Whom he distressed heard
From hard distresse redeem'd.

My soule turmoild with woes,
Now boldly turne to rest,
Such changes on thee showes
Who greatest is and best.
My life from death is past,
Mine eyes have dried their weeping
My slipping foote stands fast,
My self live in his keeping.

Beleeving as I spake,
(Such woe my witts did blind)
I said, when I did quake,
I all men Hers finde:
Which, finding false, to thee
What thancks. Lord, shall I render,
Who showring blisse on me
Dost me soe truly tender?

My cup with thanks shall flow
For freedom from my thrall,
Which I, in flames will throw,
And on thy name will call.
To thee my vowes will pay,
Thy people all beholding,
Who dear their deaths dost weigh,
That are to thee beholden.

This I thy servant taste,
Thy slave, thy handmaids sonne:
Whose bands thou broken hast,
And fettring chaines undone.
Who unto thee for this
A sacrifice of praising
To offer will not misse,
Thy name with honor raising.

Thou whom no times enfold
Shalt have what I did vow:
And they shall all behold
Who to thy scepter bow.
The place, that holy place,
Before thy house extended;
The very middle space
In Sion comprehended.