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Prayer and Praise for Deliverance from Enemies

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

31 In thee, O Lord, do I seek refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    in thy righteousness deliver me!
Incline thy ear to me,
    rescue me speedily!
Be thou a rock of refuge for me,
    a strong fortress to save me!

Yea, thou art my rock and my fortress;
    for thy name’s sake lead me and guide me,
take me out of the net which is hidden for me,
    for thou art my refuge.
Into thy hand I commit my spirit;
    thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

Thou hatest[a] those who pay regard to vain idols;
    but I trust in the Lord.
I will rejoice and be glad for thy steadfast love,
    because thou hast seen my affliction,
    thou hast taken heed of my adversities,
and hast not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
    thou hast set my feet in a broad place.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
    my eye is wasted from grief,
    my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
    and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,[b]
    and my bones waste away.

11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
    a horror[c] to my neighbors,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
    those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
    I have become like a broken vessel.
13 Yea, I hear the whispering of many—
    terror on every side!—
as they scheme together against me,
    as they plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in thee, O Lord,
    I say, “Thou art my God.”
15 My times are in thy hand;
    deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors!
16 Let thy face shine on thy servant;
    save me in thy steadfast love!
17 Let me not be put to shame, O Lord,
    for I call on thee;
let the wicked be put to shame,
    let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be dumb,
    which speak insolently against the righteous
    in pride and contempt.

19 O how abundant is thy goodness,
    which thou hast laid up for those who fear thee,
and wrought for those who take refuge in thee,
    in the sight of the sons of men!
20 In the covert of thy presence thou hidest them
    from the plots of men;
thou holdest them safe under thy shelter
    from the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the Lord,
    for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
    when I was beset as in a besieged city.
22 I had said in my alarm,
    “I am driven far[d] from thy sight.”
But thou didst hear my supplications,
    when I cried to thee for help.

23 Love the Lord, all you his saints!
    The Lord preserves the faithful,
    but abundantly requites him who acts haughtily.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
    all you who wait for the Lord!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 31:6 With one Heb Ms Gk Syr Jerome: Heb I hate
  2. Psalm 31:10 Gk Syr: Heb iniquity
  3. Psalm 31:11 Cn: Heb exceedingly
  4. Psalm 31:22 Another reading is cut off

The Lord a Fortress in Adversity

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

31 In (A)You, O Lord, I [a]put my trust;
Let me never be ashamed;
Deliver me in Your righteousness.
(B)Bow down Your ear to me,
Deliver me speedily;
Be my rock of [b]refuge,
A [c]fortress of defense to save me.

(C)For You are my rock and my fortress;
Therefore, (D)for Your name’s sake,
Lead me and guide me.
Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,
For You are my strength.
(E)Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have redeemed me, O Lord God of (F)truth.

I have hated those (G)who regard useless idols;
But I trust in the Lord.
I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy,
For You have considered my trouble;
You have (H)known my soul in [d]adversities,
And have not (I)shut[e] me up into the hand of the enemy;
(J)You have set my feet in a wide place.

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble;
(K)My eye wastes away with grief,
Yes, my soul and my [f]body!
10 For my life is spent with grief,
And my years with sighing;
My strength fails because of my iniquity,
And my bones waste away.
11 (L)I am a [g]reproach among all my enemies,
But (M)especially among my neighbors,
And am repulsive to my acquaintances;
(N)Those who see me outside flee from me.
12 (O)I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind;
I am like a [h]broken vessel.
13 (P)For I hear the slander of many;
(Q)Fear is on every side;
While they (R)take counsel together against me,
They scheme to take away my life.

14 But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in Your (S)hand;
Deliver me from the hand of my enemies,
And from those who persecute me.
16 (T)Make Your face shine upon Your servant;
Save me for Your mercies’ sake.
17 (U)Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon You;
Let the wicked be ashamed;
(V)Let them be silent in the grave.
18 (W)Let the lying lips be put to silence,
Which (X)speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

19 (Y)Oh, how great is Your goodness,
Which You have laid up for those who fear You,
Which You have prepared for those who trust in You
In the presence of the sons of men!
20 (Z)You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence
From the plots of man;
(AA)You shall keep them secretly in a [i]pavilion
From the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the Lord,
For (AB)He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a [j]strong city!
22 For I said in my haste,
“I am cut off from before Your eyes”;
Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications
When I cried out to You.

23 Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints!
For the Lord preserves the faithful,
And fully repays the proud person.
24 (AC)Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 31:1 have taken refuge
  2. Psalm 31:2 strength
  3. Psalm 31:2 Lit. house of fortresses
  4. Psalm 31:7 troubles
  5. Psalm 31:8 given me over
  6. Psalm 31:9 Lit. belly
  7. Psalm 31:11 despised thing
  8. Psalm 31:12 Lit. perishing
  9. Psalm 31:20 shelter
  10. Psalm 31:21 fortified