一个老年人的祈祷

71 耶和华啊,我投靠了你,
求你使我永不蒙羞。
求你凭公义搭救我,
侧耳听我的恳求,拯救我。
求你成为保护我的磐石,
让我可以随时投靠你。
求你下令救我,
因为你是我的磐石和堡垒。
我的上帝啊,
求你从恶人手中拯救我,
从邪恶、残暴之徒掌下拯救我。
主耶和华啊,你是我的盼望,
我从小就信靠你。
你使我出了母胎,
我从出生就依靠你,
我要永远赞美你。
我的遭遇使许多人感到惊骇,
但你是我坚固的避难所。
我口中充满对你的赞美,
终日述说你的荣耀。
我年老时,求你不要丢弃我;
我体力衰微时,求你不要离弃我。
10 我的仇敌议论我,
那些想杀害我的一起策划阴谋,说:
11 “上帝已经丢弃了他。
去追赶、捉拿他吧,
因为无人会救他。”

12 上帝啊,不要远离我;
我的上帝啊,求你快来帮助我!
13 愿我的仇敌在羞辱中灭亡,
愿那些害我的人抱愧蒙羞。
14 我必常常心怀盼望,
向你献上更多的赞美。
15 虽然我无法测度你的公义和拯救之恩,
但我要终日传扬你的作为。
16 主耶和华啊,
我要传扬你大能的作为,
单单述说你的公义。
17 上帝啊,
我从小就受你的教导,
直到今日我仍传扬你奇妙的作为。
18 上帝啊,
就是我年老发白的时候,
求你也不要丢弃我,
好让我把你的大能告诉下一代,世代相传。
19 上帝啊,你的公义高达穹苍,
你成就了奇妙大事。
上帝啊,有谁能像你?
20 你使我经历了许多患难,
最终必使我重获新生,
救我脱离死亡的深渊。
21 你必赐我更大的尊荣,
你必再次安慰我。
22 我的上帝啊,
我要弹琴赞美你的信实;
以色列的圣者啊,
我要伴随着琴声赞美你。
23 你救赎了我的灵魂,
我的口和灵魂都要欢呼歌颂你。
24 我要终日向人述说你的公义,
因为那些想害我的人已经蒙羞受辱。

An Old Person’s Prayer

71 In you, Lord, is my protection.
    Never let me be ashamed.
Because you do what is right, save and rescue me;
    listen to me and save me.
Be my place of safety
    where I can always come.
Give the command to save me,
    because you are my rock and my strong, walled city.
My God, save me from the power of the wicked
    and from the hold of evil and cruel people.
Lord, you are my hope.
    Lord, I have trusted you since I was young.
I have depended on you since I was born;
    you helped me even on the day of my birth.
    I will always praise you.

I am an example to many people,
    because you are my strong protection.
I am always praising you;
    all day long I honor you.
Do not reject me when I am old;
    do not leave me when my strength is gone.
10 My enemies make plans against me,
    and they meet together to kill me.
11 They say, “God has left him.
    Go after him and take him,
    because no one will save him.”

12 God, don’t be far off.
    My God, hurry to help me.
13 Let those who accuse me
    be ashamed and destroyed.
Let those who are trying to hurt me
    be covered with shame and disgrace.
14 But I will always have hope
    and will praise you more and more.
15 I will tell how you do what is right.
    I will tell about your salvation all day long,
    even though it is more than I can tell.
16 I will come and tell about your powerful works, Lord God.
    I will remind people that only you do what is right.

17 God, you have taught me since I was young.
    To this day I tell about the miracles you do.
18 Even though I am old and gray,
    do not leave me, God.
I will tell the children about your power;
    I will tell those who live after me about your might.

19 God, your justice reaches to the skies.
    You have done great things;
    God, there is no one like you.
20 You have given me many troubles and bad times,
    but you will give me life again.
When I am almost dead,
    you will keep me alive.
21 You will make me greater than ever,
    and you will comfort me again.

22 I will praise you with the harp.
    I trust you, my God.
I will sing to you with the lyre,
    Holy One of Israel.
23 I will shout for joy when I sing praises to you.
    You have saved me.
24 I will tell about your justice all day long.
    And those who want to hurt me
    will be ashamed and disgraced.