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Grace Through the Cross
The song is a grateful testimony to God’s grace, Christ’s costly cross, redemption, renewed identity, and dependence on divine mercy. Its central message is strong, though several phrases should more precisely describe the sacrifice, redemption’s scope, and the Father’s sending of the Son.
Strengths
3It expresses joyful, continual gratitude and worship toward the Lord.
It celebrates Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice as effective for reconciliation and sanctification.
It testifies that renewed identity, reconciliation, life, and devoted service come from God’s gracious work.
Concerns
1- qualification
The song should clarify that victory rests on Christ’s costly sacrifice rather than implying it came “without a price,” and that “shine” is imprecise. Its references to “the story of my days” and “here” may extend beyond redemption ambiguously; likewise, God sends the Son, while Christ’s blood is shed for redemption, not the Father’s blood.
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doctrinal assertionNeeds qualificationThe blood of the Lamb grounds victory, and Christ endured shame through the cross. Confidence in God is biblical. “Without a price” misleadingly obscures the costly sacrifice, while “shine” remains imprecise.
Revelation 12:10–11WEB
Direct quotePartly matches in contextRevelation explicitly says God’s people overcame the accuser through the Lamb’s blood and faithful testimony.
Passage · Revelation 12:8–13[Revelation 12:8] They didn’t prevail. No place was found for them any more in heaven. [Revelation 12:9] The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. [Revelation 12:10] I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ has come; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. [Revelation 12:11] They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life, even to death. [Revelation 12:12] Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time.” [Revelation 12:13] When the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.
Hebrews 12:2–3WEB
Close paraphrasePartly matches in contextHebrews says Jesus endured the cross and despised its shame, supporting Christ’s shame-bearing work.
Passage · Hebrews 12:1–5[Hebrews 12:1] Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us, [Hebrews 12:2] looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [Hebrews 12:3] For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls. [Hebrews 12:4] You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin. [Hebrews 12:5] You have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, “My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him;
Philippians 2:9–11WEB
Related themePartly matches in contextPhilippians connects Christ’s humiliation and cross with his exaltation, partly echoing the lyric’s movement from shame toward glory.
Passage · Philippians 2:7–13[Philippians 2:7] but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. [Philippians 2:8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. [Philippians 2:9] Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, [Philippians 2:10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, [Philippians 2:11] and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [Philippians 2:12] So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [Philippians 2:13] For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
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devotional responseStrongly supportedThe response gives thanks to the Lord, matching biblical calls to thanksgiving, joyful worship, and continual gratitude.
Psalms 100:1–5WEB
Related themeMatches in contextPsalm 100 repeatedly calls all peoples to sing, praise, and give thanks to the LORD.
Passage · Psalms 100:1–5[Psalms 100:1] A Psalm of thanksgiving. Shout for joy to the LORD, all you lands! [Psalms 100:2] Serve the LORD with gladness. Come before his presence with singing. [Psalms 100:3] Know that the LORD, he is God. It is he who has made us, and we are his. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. [Psalms 100:4] Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, and bless his name. [Psalms 100:5] For the LORD is good. His loving kindness endures forever, his faithfulness to all generations.
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18WEB
Related themeMatches in contextPaul commands believers to rejoice, pray continually, and give thanks in everything.
Passage · 1 Thessalonians 5:14–20[1 Thessalonians 5:14] We exhort you, brothers: Admonish the disorderly; encourage the faint-hearted; support the weak; be patient toward all. [1 Thessalonians 5:15] See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good for one another and for all. [1 Thessalonians 5:16] Always rejoice. [1 Thessalonians 5:17] Pray without ceasing. [1 Thessalonians 5:18] In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you. [1 Thessalonians 5:19] Don’t quench the Spirit. [1 Thessalonians 5:20] Don’t despise prophecies.
Psalms 136:1–3WEB
Related themeMatches in contextPsalm 136 repeatedly directs thanksgiving to the LORD because his loving kindness endures forever.
Passage · Psalms 136:1–5[Psalms 136:1] Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever. [Psalms 136:2] Give thanks to the God of gods, for his loving kindness endures forever. [Psalms 136:3] Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his loving kindness endures forever; [Psalms 136:4] to him who alone does great wonders, for his loving kindness endures forever; [Psalms 136:5] to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his loving kindness endures forever;
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personal testimonyNeeds qualificationThe reviewed passages establish salvation and transformed identity as gifts of grace and love. The lyric's broader scope for “the story of my days” and “here” remains ambiguous, since those words may imply all of existence rather than redemption.
Ephesians 2:4–10WEB
Close paraphraseMatches in contextEphesians attributes salvation, new life, and Christian identity to God's mercy, love, and grace rather than human works.
Passage · Ephesians 2:2–12[Ephesians 2:2] in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. [Ephesians 2:3] We also all once lived among them in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. [Ephesians 2:4] But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, [Ephesians 2:5] even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— [Ephesians 2:6] and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [Ephesians 2:7] that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; [Ephesians 2:8] for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [Ephesians 2:9] not of works, that no one would boast. [Ephesians 2:10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. [Ephesians 2:11] Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision” (in the flesh, made by hands), [Ephesians 2:12] that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
1 Corinthians 15:9–10WEB
Close paraphraseMatches in contextPaul explicitly identifies his apostolic life and labor as resulting from God's grace working with him.
Passage · 1 Corinthians 15:7–12[1 Corinthians 15:7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, [1 Corinthians 15:8] and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. [1 Corinthians 15:9] For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God. [1 Corinthians 15:10] But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. [1 Corinthians 15:11] Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed. [1 Corinthians 15:12] Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1 John 4:9–10WEB
Related themePartly matches in contextJohn grounds believers' life in God's love revealed through sending his Son as an atoning sacrifice.
Passage · 1 John 4:7–12[1 John 4:7] Beloved, let’s love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. [1 John 4:8] He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love. [1 John 4:9] By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his only born Son into the world that we might live through him. [1 John 4:10] In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. [1 John 4:11] Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another. [1 John 4:12] No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us.
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devotional responseStrongly supportedThe response gives thanks to the Lord, matching biblical calls to praise, gratitude, and joyful worship.
Psalms 100:1–5WEB
Related themeMatches in contextPsalm 100 calls God’s people to come with singing, thanksgiving, and praise to the LORD.
Passage · Psalms 100:1–5[Psalms 100:1] A Psalm of thanksgiving. Shout for joy to the LORD, all you lands! [Psalms 100:2] Serve the LORD with gladness. Come before his presence with singing. [Psalms 100:3] Know that the LORD, he is God. It is he who has made us, and we are his. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. [Psalms 100:4] Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, and bless his name. [Psalms 100:5] For the LORD is good. His loving kindness endures forever, his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalms 103:1–5WEB
Related themeMatches in contextPsalm 103 calls the soul to praise the LORD and remember his benefits.
Passage · Psalms 103:1–7[Psalms 103:1] By David. Praise the LORD, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name! [Psalms 103:2] Praise the LORD, my soul, and don’t forget all his benefits, [Psalms 103:3] who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, [Psalms 103:4] who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, [Psalms 103:5] who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. [Psalms 103:6] The LORD executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed. [Psalms 103:7] He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel.
Psalms 136:1–3WEB
Related themeMatches in contextPsalm 136 repeatedly calls for thanksgiving to the LORD because his loving kindness endures forever.
Passage · Psalms 136:1–5[Psalms 136:1] Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever. [Psalms 136:2] Give thanks to the God of gods, for his loving kindness endures forever. [Psalms 136:3] Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his loving kindness endures forever; [Psalms 136:4] to him who alone does great wonders, for his loving kindness endures forever; [Psalms 136:5] to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his loving kindness endures forever;
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devotional responseStrongly supportedThe response thanks God for Christ’s loving, once-for-all sacrifice on the cross, which Hebrews and Romans present as fully effective for reconciliation and sanctification.
Hebrews 10:10–14WEB
Direct quoteMatches in contextHebrews describes Jesus’ one offering as sanctifying and perfecting his people forever.
Passage · Hebrews 10:8–16[Hebrews 10:8] Previously saying, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you didn’t desire, neither had pleasure in them” (those which are offered according to the law), [Hebrews 10:9] then he has said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first, that he may establish the second, [Hebrews 10:10] by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [Hebrews 10:11] Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, [Hebrews 10:12] but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God, [Hebrews 10:13] from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet. [Hebrews 10:14] For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. [Hebrews 10:15] The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, [Hebrews 10:16] “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,” says the Lord, “I will put my laws on their heart, I will also write them on their mind;” then he says,
Romans 5:6–11WEB
Close paraphraseMatches in contextRomans says Christ died for sinners and that believers receive reconciliation through his death.
Passage · Romans 5:4–13[Romans 5:4] and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; [Romans 5:5] and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. [Romans 5:6] For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [Romans 5:7] For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a good person someone would even dare to die. [Romans 5:8] But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. [Romans 5:9] Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. [Romans 5:10] For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. [Romans 5:11] Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. [Romans 5:12] Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death passed to all men because all sinned. [Romans 5:13] For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law.
Galatians 2:20–21WEB
Close paraphraseMatches in contextGalatians says the Son of God loved and gave himself for the believer.
Passage · Galatians 2:18–21[Galatians 2:18] For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker. [Galatians 2:19] For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. [Galatians 2:20] I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me. [Galatians 2:21] I don’t reject the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”
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doctrinal assertionNeeds qualificationThe reviewed passages establish redemption, forgiveness, cleansing, and life through Christ's blood. “The blood you sent” is imprecise: God sends the Son, while Christ's blood is the blood shed for redemption, not the Father's blood.
1 Peter 1:18–21WEB
Close paraphrasePartly matches in contextPeter identifies precious redeeming blood as Christ's blood and connects believers' new life with God's resurrection of Christ.
Passage · 1 Peter 1:16–23[1 Peter 1:16] because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” [1 Peter 1:17] If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear, [1 Peter 1:18] knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things like silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, [1 Peter 1:19] but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ, [1 Peter 1:20] who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in this last age for your sake, [1 Peter 1:21] who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God. [1 Peter 1:22] Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently, [1 Peter 1:23] having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever.
Ephesians 1:7–10WEB
Close paraphrasePartly matches in contextEphesians directly teaches redemption and forgiveness through Christ's blood according to God's grace.
Passage · Ephesians 1:5–12[Ephesians 1:5] having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, [Ephesians 1:6] to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved. [Ephesians 1:7] In him we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace [Ephesians 1:8] which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, [Ephesians 1:9] making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him [Ephesians 1:10] to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in him. [Ephesians 1:11] We were also assigned an inheritance in him, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who does all things after the counsel of his will, [Ephesians 1:12] to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ.
Revelation 1:5–6WEB
Close paraphrasePartly matches in contextRevelation attributes cleansing from sins to Jesus' blood and presents him as the source of the redeemed community's life.
Passage · Revelation 1:3–8[Revelation 1:3] Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is near. [Revelation 1:4] John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne; [Revelation 1:5] and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood— [Revelation 1:6] and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. [Revelation 1:7] Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen. [Revelation 1:8] “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
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devotional responseSupportedThe response expresses dependence on God for life, fruitfulness, help, and deliverance, followed by fitting gratitude.
Acts 17:24–28WEB
Related themeMatches in contextActs says God gives all people life and breath, and that humanity lives, moves, and exists in him.
Passage · Acts 17:22–30[Acts 17:22] Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things. [Acts 17:23] For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, I announce to you. [Acts 17:24] The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands. [Acts 17:25] He isn’t served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath and all things. [Acts 17:26] He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons and the boundaries of their dwellings, [Acts 17:27] that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. [Acts 17:28] ‘For in him we live, move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’ [Acts 17:29] Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man. [Acts 17:30] The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,
John 15:4–6WEB
Close paraphraseMatches in contextJesus teaches that branches can bear fruit only by remaining in him and that apart from him they can do nothing.
Passage · John 15:2–8[John 15:2] Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. [John 15:3] You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. [John 15:4] Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. [John 15:5] I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. [John 15:6] If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. [John 15:7] If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. [John 15:8] “In this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.
Psalms 124:1–8WEB
Close paraphraseMatches in contextPsalm 124 credits the LORD with Israel’s protection, escape, and help.
Passage · Psalms 124:1–8[Psalms 124:1] A Song of Ascents. By David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, let Israel now say, [Psalms 124:2] if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us, [Psalms 124:3] then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us, [Psalms 124:4] then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul. [Psalms 124:5] Then the proud waters would have gone over our soul. [Psalms 124:6] Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. [Psalms 124:7] Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped. [Psalms 124:8] Our help is in the LORD’s name, who made heaven and earth.
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devotional responseSupportedThe response rightly connects renewed identity and reconciliation with God’s work, then answers divine mercy with thanksgiving and devoted service.
2 Corinthians 5:17–21WEB
Close paraphraseMatches in contextSecond Corinthians attributes new creation and reconciliation to God through Christ.
Passage · 2 Corinthians 5:15–21[2 Corinthians 5:15] He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again. [2 Corinthians 5:16] Therefore we know no one according to the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. [2 Corinthians 5:17] Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. [2 Corinthians 5:18] But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; [2 Corinthians 5:19] namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation. [2 Corinthians 5:20] We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. [2 Corinthians 5:21] For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Romans 12:1–2WEB
Related themeMatches in contextRomans grounds wholehearted dedication in God’s mercies and calls for transformed lives.
Passage · Romans 12:1–4[Romans 12:1] Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. [Romans 12:2] Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. [Romans 12:3] For I say through the grace that was given me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith. [Romans 12:4] For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function,
Psalms 116:12–19WEB
Close paraphraseMatches in contextPsalm 116 responds to God’s benefits and deliverance with thanksgiving, vows, and public praise.
Passage · Psalms 116:10–19[Psalms 116:10] I believed, therefore I said, “I was greatly afflicted.” [Psalms 116:11] I said in my haste, “All people are liars.” [Psalms 116:12] What will I give to the LORD for all his benefits toward me? [Psalms 116:13] I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the LORD’s name. [Psalms 116:14] I will pay my vows to the LORD, yes, in the presence of all his people. [Psalms 116:15] Precious in the LORD’s sight is the death of his saints. [Psalms 116:16] LORD, truly I am your servant. I am your servant, the son of your servant girl. You have freed me from my chains. [Psalms 116:17] I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call on the LORD’s name. [Psalms 116:18] I will pay my vows to the LORD, yes, in the presence of all his people, [Psalms 116:19] in the courts of the LORD’s house, in the middle of you, Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!