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Psalm 71
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Psalm 71
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Psalm 71[a]
Prayer in Time of Old Age
I
1 In you, Lord, I take refuge;(A)
let me never be put to shame.(B)
2 In your justice rescue and deliver me;
listen to me and save me!
3 Be my rock of refuge,
my stronghold to give me safety;
for you are my rock and fortress.(C)
4 My God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked,
from the clutches of the evil and violent.(D)
5 You are my hope, Lord;
my trust, God, from my youth.
6 On you I have depended since birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength;(E)
my hope in you never wavers.
7 [b]I have become a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge!
8 My mouth shall be filled with your praise,
shall sing your glory every day.
II
9 Do not cast me aside in my old age;
as my strength fails, do not forsake me.
10 For my enemies speak against me;
they watch and plot against me.(F)
11 They say, “God has abandoned him.
Pursue, and seize him!
No one will come to the rescue!”
12 God, be not far from me;
my God, hasten to help me.(G)
13 Bring to a shameful end
those who attack me;
Cover with contempt and scorn
those who seek my ruin.(H)
14 I will always hope in you
and add to all your praise.
15 My mouth shall proclaim your just deeds,
day after day your acts of deliverance,
though I cannot number them all.(I)
16 I will speak of the mighty works of the Lord;
O God, I will tell of your singular justice.
III
17 God, you have taught me from my youth;
to this day I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
18 Now that I am old and gray,(J)
do not forsake me, God,
That I may proclaim your might
to all generations yet to come,(K)
Your power 19 and justice, God,
to the highest heaven.
You have done great things;(L)
O God, who is your equal?(M)
20 Whatever bitter afflictions you sent me,
you would turn and revive me.
From the watery depths of the earth
once more raise me up.
21 Restore my honor;
turn and comfort me,
22 That I may praise you with the lyre
for your faithfulness, my God,
And sing to you with the harp,
O Holy One of Israel!
23 My lips will shout for joy as I sing your praise;
my soul, too, which you have redeemed.
24 Yes, my tongue shall recount
your justice day by day.
For those who sought my ruin
have been shamed and disgraced.
Footnotes
- Psalm 71 A lament of an old person (Ps 71:9, 18) whose afflictions are interpreted by enemies as a divine judgment (Ps 71:11). The first part of the Psalm pleads for help (Ps 71:1–4) on the basis of a hope learned from a lifetime’s experience of God; the second part describes the menace (Ps 71:9–13) yet remains buoyant (Ps 71:14–16); the third develops the theme of hope and praise.
- 71:7 A portent to many: the afflictions of the sufferer are taken as a manifestation of God’s anger, cf. Dt 28:46; Ps 31:12.
Psalm 71
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Psalm 71
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Prayer for Lifelong Protection and Help
71 In thee, O Lord, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame!
2 In thy righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline thy ear to me, and save me!
3 Be thou to me a rock of refuge,
a strong fortress,[a] to save me,
for thou art my rock and my fortress.
4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
5 For thou, O Lord, art my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
6 Upon thee I have leaned from my birth;
thou art he who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of thee.
7 I have been as a portent to many;
but thou art my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with thy praise,
and with thy glory all the day.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength is spent.
10 For my enemies speak concerning me,
those who watch for my life consult together,
11 and say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue and seize him,
for there is none to deliver him.”
12 O God, be not far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me!
13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
who seek my hurt.
14 But I will hope continually,
and will praise thee yet more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of thy righteous acts,
of thy deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is past my knowledge.
16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come,
I will praise thy righteousness, thine alone.
17 O God, from my youth thou hast taught me,
and I still proclaim thy wondrous deeds.
18 So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
till I proclaim thy might
to all the generations to come.[b]
Thy power 19 and thy righteousness, O God,
reach the high heavens.
Thou who hast done great things,
O God, who is like thee?
20 Thou who hast made me see many sore troubles
wilt revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
thou wilt bring me up again.
21 Thou wilt increase my honor,
and comfort me again.
22 I will also praise thee with the harp
for thy faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to thee with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy,
when I sing praises to thee;
my soul also, which thou hast rescued.
24 And my tongue will talk of thy righteous help
all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disgraced
who sought to do me hurt.
Footnotes
- Psalm 71:3 Gk Compare 31.3: Heb to come continually thou hast commanded
- Psalm 71:18 Gk Compare Syr: Heb to a generation, to all that come
Psalm 71
Good News Translation
Psalm 71
Good News Translation
The Prayer of an Elderly Person
71 Lord, I have come to you for protection;
never let me be defeated!
2 Because you are righteous, help me and rescue me.
Listen to me and save me!
3 Be my secure shelter
and a strong fortress[a] to protect me;
you are my refuge and defense.
4 My God, rescue me from wicked people,
from the power of cruel and evil people.
5 Sovereign Lord, I put my hope in you;
I have trusted in you since I was young.
6 I have relied on you all my life;
you have protected[b] me since the day I was born.
I will always praise you.
7 My life has been an example to many,
because you have been my strong defender.
8 All day long I praise you
and proclaim your glory.
9 Do not reject me now that I am old;
do not abandon me now that I am feeble.
10 My enemies want to kill me;
they talk and plot against me.
11 They say, “God has abandoned him;
let's go after him and catch him;
there is no one to rescue him.”
12 Don't stay so far away, O God;
my God, hurry to my aid!
13 May those who attack me
be defeated and destroyed.
May those who try to hurt me
be shamed and disgraced.
14 I will always put my hope in you;
I will praise you more and more.
15 I will tell of your goodness;
all day long I will speak of your salvation,
though it is more than I can understand.
16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God;
I will proclaim your goodness, yours alone.
17 You have taught me ever since I was young,
and I still tell of your wonderful acts.
18 Now that I am old and my hair is gray,
do not abandon me, O God!
Be with me while I proclaim your power and might
to all generations to come.
19 Your righteousness, God, reaches the skies.
You have done great things;
there is no one like you.
20 You have sent troubles and suffering on me,
but you will restore my strength;
you will keep me from the grave.
21 You will make me greater than ever;
you will comfort me again.
22 I will indeed praise you with the harp;
I will praise your faithfulness, my God.
On my harp I will play hymns to you,
the Holy One of Israel.
23 I will shout for joy as I play for you;
with my whole being I will sing
because you have saved me.
24 I will speak of your righteousness all day long,
because those who tried to harm me
have been defeated and disgraced.
Footnotes
- Psalm 71:3 One ancient translation a strong fortress; Hebrew to go always you commanded.
- Psalm 71:6 Some ancient translations protected; Hebrew unclear.
Psalm 71
New American Standard Bible
Psalm 71
New American Standard Bible
Prayer of an Old Man for Rescue.
71 (A)In You, Lord, I have taken refuge;
Let me never be put to shame.
2 (B)In Your righteousness rescue me and save me;
(C)Extend Your ear to me and help me.
3 (D)Be to me a rock of (E)dwelling to which I may continually come;
You have given the (F)commandment to save me,
For You are (G)my rock and my fortress.
4 (H)Save me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
From the [a]grasp of the wrongdoer and the ruthless,
5 For You are my (I)hope;
Lord [b]God, You are my (J)confidence from my youth.
6 I have (K)leaned on you since my birth;
You are He who (L)took me from my mother’s womb;
My (M)praise is continually [c]of You.
7 I have become a (N)marvel to many,
For You are (O)my strong refuge.
8 My (P)mouth is filled with Your praise
And with (Q)Your glory all day long.
9 Do not cast me away at the (R)time of my old age;
Do not abandon me when my strength fails.
10 For my enemies have spoken [d]against me;
And those who (S)watch for my [e]life (T)have consulted together,
11 Saying, “(U)God has abandoned him;
Pursue and seize him, for there is (V)no one to save him.”
12 God, (W)do not be far from me;
My God, (X)hurry to my aid!
13 May those who are enemies of my soul be (Y)put to shame and consumed;
May they be (Z)covered with disgrace and dishonor, who (AA)seek [f]to injure me.
14 But as for me, I will (AB)wait continually,
And will [g](AC)praise You yet more and more.
15 My (AD)mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And of (AE)Your salvation all day long;
For I (AF)do not know the art of writing.
16 I will come (AG)with the mighty deeds of the Lord [h]God;
I will (AH)make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone.
17 God, You (AI)have taught me from my youth,
And I still (AJ)declare Your wondrous deeds.
18 And even when I am (AK)old and gray, God, do not abandon me,
Until I (AL)declare Your [i]strength to this generation,
Your power to all who are to come.
19 [j]For Your (AM)righteousness, God, reaches to the [k]heavens,
You who have (AN)done great things;
God, (AO)who is like You?
20 You who have (AP)shown [l]me many troubles and distresses
Will (AQ)revive [m]me again,
And will bring [n]me up again (AR)from the depths of the earth.
21 May You increase my (AS)greatness
And turn to (AT)comfort me.
22 I will also praise You with [o](AU)a harp,
And Your [p]truth, my God;
I will sing praises to You with the (AV)lyre,
(AW)Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will (AX)shout for joy when I sing praises to You;
And my (AY)soul, which You have redeemed.
24 My (AZ)tongue also will tell of Your righteousness all day long;
For they are (BA)put to shame, for they are humiliated who seek [q]my harm.
Footnotes
- Psalm 71:4 Lit palm
- Psalm 71:5 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
- Psalm 71:6 Lit in
- Psalm 71:10 Lit with reference to
- Psalm 71:10 Lit soul
- Psalm 71:13 Lit my injury
- Psalm 71:14 Lit add upon all Your praise
- Psalm 71:16 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
- Psalm 71:18 Lit arm
- Psalm 71:19 Or And
- Psalm 71:19 Lit height
- Psalm 71:20 Another reading is us
- Psalm 71:20 Another reading is us
- Psalm 71:20 Another reading is us
- Psalm 71:22 Lit an instrument of a harp
- Psalm 71:22 Or faithfulness
- Psalm 71:24 Or to injure me
Psalm 71
New International Version
Psalm 71
New International Version
Psalm 71(A)
1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;(B)
let me never be put to shame.(C)
2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear(D) to me and save me.
3 Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.(E)
4 Deliver(F) me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,(G)
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.(H)
5 For you have been my hope,(I) Sovereign Lord,
my confidence(J) since my youth.
6 From birth(K) I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.(L)
I will ever praise(M) you.
7 I have become a sign(N) to many;
you are my strong refuge.(O)
8 My mouth(P) is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor(Q) all day long.
9 Do not cast(R) me away when I am old;(S)
do not forsake(T) me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies(U) speak against me;
those who wait to kill(V) me conspire(W) together.
11 They say, “God has forsaken(X) him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue(Y) him.”
12 Do not be far(Z) from me, my God;
come quickly, God, to help(AA) me.
13 May my accusers(AB) perish in shame;(AC)
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.(AD)
14 As for me, I will always have hope;(AE)
I will praise you more and more.
15 My mouth will tell(AF) of your righteous deeds,(AG)
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts,(AH) Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught(AI) me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.(AJ)
18 Even when I am old and gray,(AK)
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power(AL) to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.(AM)
19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,(AN)
you who have done great things.(AO)
Who is like you, God?(AP)
20 Though you have made me see troubles,(AQ)
many and bitter,
you will restore(AR) my life again;
from the depths of the earth(AS)
you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor(AT)
and comfort(AU) me once more.
22 I will praise you with the harp(AV)
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,(AW)
Holy One of Israel.(AX)
23 My lips will shout for joy(AY)
when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered.(AZ)
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,(BA)
for those who wanted to harm me(BB)
have been put to shame and confusion.(BC)
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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