He Turned His Ear to Me

A survivor's thank-you to his Father. The cords of death had tightened when he called and was heard, so he decides to keep calling as long as he lives. He asks what he can give back, and answers with a lifted cup and vows paid publicly.

Chapter 116.

I love my Father, because he hears my voice, my cries for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death wrapped around me; the anguish of the grave gripped me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of my Father: "O my Father, I plead with you, deliver my soul!" Gracious is our Father, and righteous; our Father is full of compassion. My Father watches over the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, my soul, to your rest, for my Father has been so good to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I will walk in my Father's presence in the land of the living. I believed, even when I said, "I am deeply afflicted"; in my panic I said, "Everyone is a liar." What can I give back to my Father for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of my Father. I will fulfill my vows to my Father in the presence of all his people. Precious to my Father is the death of his faithful ones. O my Father, I am truly your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my chains. I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of my Father. I will fulfill my vows to my Father in the presence of all his people, in the courts of my Father's house, among you, Jerusalem. Hallelujah!