# Psalms 116.1-2

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-09-28 | updated: 2026-09-28 -->

**Book:** [Psalms](/codex/psalms/) · NASB95

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> **1. I love Jehovah, because he heareth My voice and my supplications. 2. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, Therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.**
>
> 3. The cords of death compassed me, And the pains of Sheol gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4. Then called I upon the name of Jehovah: O Jehovah, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. (Psalms 116:1-4, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> **1. I love Yahweh, because he listens to my voice, and my cries for mercy. 2. Because he has turned his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.**
>
> 3. The cords of death surrounded me, the pains of Sheol got a hold of me. I found trouble and sorrow. 4. Then I called on Yahweh’s name: “Yahweh, I beg you, deliver my soul.” (Psalms 116:1-4, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> **1. I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. <sup>as long: Heb. in my days</sup>**
>
> 3. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. <sup>gat: Heb. found me</sup> 4. Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. (Psalms 116:1-4, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> **1. I have loved, because Jehovah heareth My voice, my supplication, 2. Because He hath inclined His ear to me, And during my days I call.**
>
> 3. Compassed me have cords of death, And straits of Sheol have found me, Distress and sorrow I find. 4. And in the name of Jehovah I call: I pray Thee, O Jehovah, deliver my soul, (Psalms 116:1-4, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** _TBD_
- **Audience:** _TBD_
- **Location:** _TBD_
- **Time period:** _TBD_

## Theological reading

_Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._

## Key words

_Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word._

- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_

## Notes

_Your annotations._

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.