Add parallel Print Page Options

A Prayer of Trust in God[a]

31 I come to you, Lord, for protection;
    never let me be defeated.
You are a righteous God;
    save me, I pray!
Hear me! Save me now!
Be my refuge to protect me;
    my defense to save me.

You are my refuge and defense;
    guide me and lead me as you have promised.
Keep me safe from the trap that has been set for me;
    shelter me from danger.
(A)I place myself in your care.
You will save me, Lord;
    you are a faithful God.

You hate those who worship false gods,
    but I trust in you.
I will be glad and rejoice
    because of your constant love.
You see my suffering;
    you know my trouble.
You have not let my enemies capture me;
    you have given me freedom to go where I wish.

Be merciful to me, Lord,
    for I am in trouble;
my eyes are tired from so much crying;
    I am completely worn out.
10 I am exhausted by sorrow,
    and weeping has shortened my life.
I am weak from all my troubles;[b]
    even my bones are wasting away.

11 All my enemies, and especially my neighbors,
    treat me with contempt.
Those who know me are afraid of me;
    when they see me in the street, they run away.
12 Everyone has forgotten me, as though I were dead;
    I am like something thrown away.
13 I hear many enemies whispering;
    terror is all around me.
They are making plans against me,
    plotting to kill me.

14 But my trust is in you, O Lord;
    you are my God.
15 I am always in your care;
    save me from my enemies,
    from those who persecute me.
16 Look on your servant with kindness;
    save me in your constant love.
17 I call to you, Lord;
    don't let me be disgraced.
May the wicked be disgraced;
    may they go silently down to the world of the dead.
18 Silence those liars—
    all the proud and arrogant
    who speak with contempt about the righteous.

19 How wonderful are the good things
    you keep for those who honor you!
Everyone knows how good you are,
    how securely you protect those who trust you.
20 You hide them in the safety of your presence
    from the plots of others;
in a safe shelter you hide them
    from the insults of their enemies.

21 Praise the Lord!
How wonderfully he showed his love for me
    when I was surrounded and attacked!
22 I was afraid and thought
    that he had driven me out of his presence.
But he heard my cry,
    when I called to him for help.

23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people.
The Lord protects the faithful,
    but punishes the proud as they deserve.
24 Be strong, be courageous,
    all you that hope in the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 31:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by David.
  2. Psalm 31:10 Some ancient translations troubles; Hebrew iniquity.

Psalm 31[a](A)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;(B)
    let me never be put to shame;
    deliver me in your righteousness.(C)
Turn your ear to me,(D)
    come quickly to my rescue;(E)
be my rock of refuge,(F)
    a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress,(G)
    for the sake of your name(H) lead and guide me.
Keep me free from the trap(I) that is set for me,
    for you are my refuge.(J)
Into your hands I commit my spirit;(K)
    deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.(L)

I hate those who cling to worthless idols;(M)
    as for me, I trust in the Lord.(N)
I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    for you saw my affliction(O)
    and knew the anguish(P) of my soul.
You have not given me into the hands(Q) of the enemy
    but have set my feet in a spacious place.(R)

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;(S)
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,(T)
    my soul and body(U) with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish(V)
    and my years by groaning;(W)
my strength fails(X) because of my affliction,[b](Y)
    and my bones grow weak.(Z)
11 Because of all my enemies,(AA)
    I am the utter contempt(AB) of my neighbors(AC)
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
    those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;(AD)
    I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,(AE)
    “Terror on every side!”(AF)
They conspire against me(AG)
    and plot to take my life.(AH)

14 But I trust(AI) in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times(AJ) are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine(AK) on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.(AL)
17 Let me not be put to shame,(AM) Lord,
    for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
    and be silent(AN) in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying lips(AO) be silenced,
    for with pride and contempt
    they speak arrogantly(AP) against the righteous.

19 How abundant are the good things(AQ)
    that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,(AR)
    on those who take refuge(AS) in you.
20 In the shelter(AT) of your presence you hide(AU) them
    from all human intrigues;(AV)
you keep them safe in your dwelling
    from accusing tongues.

21 Praise be to the Lord,(AW)
    for he showed me the wonders of his love(AX)
    when I was in a city under siege.(AY)
22 In my alarm(AZ) I said,
    “I am cut off(BA) from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry(BB) for mercy
    when I called to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!(BC)
    The Lord preserves those who are true to him,(BD)
    but the proud he pays back(BE) in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,(BF)
    all you who hope in the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 31:1 In Hebrew texts 31:1-24 is numbered 31:2-25.
  2. Psalm 31:10 Or guilt