Read
Psalm 116:14
I will pay my vows to the LORD, yes, in the presence of all his people.
12What will I give to the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
13I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the LORD’s name.
14I will pay my vows to the LORD, yes, in the presence of all his people.
15Precious in the LORD’s sight is the death of his saints.
16LORD, truly I am your servant. I am your servant, the son of your servant girl. You have freed me from my chains.
Notice
Paying vows in the presence of God’s people makes gratitude visible, giving weight to both the promise spoken and the act of keeping it.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What promise to God, if any, comes to mind as you read about paying vows?
Write on thisHow does keeping a promise before God’s people differ from keeping it alone?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Numbers 30:2When a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out …Numbers commands a person to keep vows made to the LORD; the psalmist declares his resolve to do so.
Psalm 66:13I will come into your temple with burnt offerings. I will pay my vows to you,Both speakers pledge to pay their vows to God, with worship in the temple named in Psalm 66.
Psalm 116:18I will pay my vows to the LORD, yes, in the presence of all his people,The same pledge appears again: vows to the LORD will be paid in the presence of all his people.
Psalm 22:25My praise of you comes in the great assembly. I will pay my vows before those who fear him.Both psalms place the payment of vows among people gathered to honor God.
Jonah 1:16Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.Jonah’s sailors make vows to the LORD, while the psalmist speaks of paying vows already made.
Jonah 2:9But I will sacrifice to you with the voice of thanksgiving. I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation belongs to the LORD.”Both speakers commit to paying what they have vowed; Jonah also names thanksgiving and the LORD’s salvation.
Job 22:27You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You will pay your vows.Both passages speak of paying vows to God, though Job’s passage frames this within a statement about prayer being heard.
Psalm 50:14Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.Psalm 50 commands the payment of vows to God, and Psalm 116 voices a resolve to pay them.
Genesis 28:20Jacob vowed a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on,Both passages concern vows involving God; Genesis records Jacob making one, while the psalmist pledges to fulfill his vows.
Matthew 5:33“Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’Jesus recounts the teaching about performing vows to the Lord, the same commitment expressed by the psalmist.
Ecclesiastes 5:4When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.Ecclesiastes urges prompt payment of vows to God; the psalmist declares that he will pay his.
Leviticus 7:16“‘But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow, or a free will offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice. On the next day what …Both texts mention vows; Leviticus addresses a vow offering’s meal, while the psalm names no particular offering.
Where this verse fits
Gratitude. answered prayer. praise and worship.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
God’s benefits are the setting for this pledge. The psalmist’s thanks take the form of vows kept, with God’s people present to witness his response.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).