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For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

31 In you, Yahweh, I take refuge.
    Let me never be disappointed.
    Deliver me in your righteousness.
Bow down your ear to me.
    Deliver me speedily.
Be to me a strong rock,
    a house of defense to save me.
For you are my rock and my fortress,
    therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.
Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me,
    for you are my stronghold.
Into your hand I commend my spirit.
    You redeem me, Yahweh, God of truth.
I hate those who regard lying vanities,
    but I trust in Yahweh.
I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness,
    for you have seen my affliction.
    You have known my soul in adversities.
You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy.
    You have set my feet in a large place.
Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am in distress.
    My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
    my years with sighing.
My strength fails because of my iniquity.
    My bones are wasted away.
11 Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors,
    a horror to my acquaintances.
    Those who saw me on the street fled from me.
12 I am forgotten from their hearts like a dead man.
    I am like broken pottery.
13 For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side,
    while they conspire together against me,
    they plot to take away my life.
14 But I trust in you, Yahweh.
    I said, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hand.
    Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
16 Make your face to shine on your servant.
    Save me in your loving kindness.
17 Let me not be disappointed, Yahweh, for I have called on you.
    Let the wicked be disappointed.
    Let them be silent in Sheol.[a]
18 Let the lying lips be mute,
    which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.
19 Oh how great is your goodness,
    which you have laid up for those who fear you,
    which you have worked for those who take refuge in you,
    before the sons of men!
20 In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man.
    You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues.
21 Praise be to Yahweh,
    for he has shown me his marvelous loving kindness in a strong city.
22 As for me, I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before your eyes.”
    Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions when I cried to you.
23 Oh love Yahweh, all you his saints!
    Yahweh preserves the faithful,
and fully recompenses him who behaves arrogantly.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
    all you who hope in Yahweh.

Footnotes

  1. 31:17 Sheol is the place of the dead.

Psalm 31

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

O Lord, I have come to you for protection;
    don’t let me be disgraced.
    Save me, for you do what is right.
Turn your ear to listen to me;
    rescue me quickly.
Be my rock of protection,
    a fortress where I will be safe.
You are my rock and my fortress.
    For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.
Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,
    for I find protection in you alone.
I entrust my spirit into your hand.
    Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.

I hate those who worship worthless idols.
    I trust in the Lord.
I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,
    for you have seen my troubles,
    and you care about the anguish of my soul.
You have not handed me over to my enemies
    but have set me in a safe place.

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress.
    Tears blur my eyes.
    My body and soul are withering away.
10 I am dying from grief;
    my years are shortened by sadness.
Sin has drained my strength;
    I am wasting away from within.
11 I am scorned by all my enemies
    and despised by my neighbors—
    even my friends are afraid to come near me.
When they see me on the street,
    they run the other way.
12 I am ignored as if I were dead,
    as if I were a broken pot.
13 I have heard the many rumors about me,
    and I am surrounded by terror.
My enemies conspire against me,
    plotting to take my life.

14 But I am trusting you, O Lord,
    saying, “You are my God!”
15 My future is in your hands.
    Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
16 Let your favor shine on your servant.
    In your unfailing love, rescue me.
17 Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord,
    for I call out to you for help.
Let the wicked be disgraced;
    let them lie silent in the grave.[a]
18 Silence their lying lips—
    those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.

19 How great is the goodness
    you have stored up for those who fear you.
You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,
    blessing them before the watching world.
20 You hide them in the shelter of your presence,
    safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence,
    far from accusing tongues.

21 Praise the Lord,
    for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.
    He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
22 In panic I cried out,
    “I am cut off from the Lord!”
But you heard my cry for mercy
    and answered my call for help.

23 Love the Lord, all you godly ones!
    For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him,
    but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
24 So be strong and courageous,
    all you who put your hope in the Lord!

Footnotes

  1. 31:17 Hebrew in Sheol.