Psalms 31

1 A psalm of David. For the music director. Lord, you are the one who keeps me safe; please don't let me ever be humiliated. Save me, because you always do what is right.

“To the chief musician, a psalm of David.” In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; Oh that I may never be put to shame: through thy righteousness do thou release me.

2 Please listen to me, and be quick to rescue me. Be my rock of protection, my strong fortress of safety.

Bend unto me thy ear; speedily deliver me: be thou unto me as a rock of protection, as a mountain strong-hold to save me.

3 You are my rock and my fortress. For the sake of your reputation, please lead me and guide me.

For my rock and my stronghold art thou; and for the sake of thy name lead me, and guide me.

4 Help me escape from the hidden net that they set to trap me, for you are the one who protects me.

Draw me out of the net which they have laid secretly for me; for thou art my protection.

5 I put myself in your hands. Save me, Lord, for you are a trustworthy God.

Into thy hand do I commit my spirit: thou redeemest me, O Lord, the God of truth.

6 I hate those who devote themselves to pointless idols; I trust in the Lord.

I hate those that depend on lying vanities; but I trust indeed in the Lord.

7 I will celebrate, happy in your love that never fails, for you have seen the problems I face and have paid attention to my troubles.

I will be glad and rejoice in thy kindness; because thou hast seen my misery; thou hast taken cognizance of the distresses of my soul;

8 You haven't handed me over to my enemies; you have set me free.

And thou hast not surrendered me into the hand of the enemy: thou hast caused my feet to stand on an ample space.

9 Be kind to me Lord, for I am upset. I can hardly see from so much crying. I am completely wasting away.

Be gracious unto me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is consumed through vexation—my soul [too] and my body.

10 Grief is killing me; my life is cut short by sadness; I am falling apart because of my troubles; I am worn to the bone.

For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing, my strength faileth because of my iniquity, and my bones are consumed.

11 I am ridiculed by my enemies, particularly by my neighbors. My friends dread meeting me; people who see me in the street run the other way.

Because of all my assailants am I become a reproach, and unto my neighbors greatly so, and a terror to my acquaintance, those that see me abroad flee away from me.

12 I have been forgotten as if I were dead; I'm ignored like a broken pot.

I am forgotten as a dead man out of the heart: I am become like a perishable vessel.

13 I hear many people whispering about me; terror surrounds me. They plot together against me, planning to kill me.

For I have heard the slandering of many; terror was on every side, while they took counsel together against me: to take away my life did they purpose.

14 But I put my trust in you, Lord, saying, “You are my God!”

But I trusted well in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God.

15 My whole life is in your hands! Save me from those who hate me and persecute me!

In thy hand are my destinies: deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from my persecutors.

16 May you look kindly on me, your servant. Save me because of your trustworthy love.

Let thy face shine upon thy servant: save me through thy kindness.

17 Lord, don't let me be disgraced, for I'm calling out to you. Instead let the wicked be disgraced, let them be silent in the grave. (Sheol h7585)

O Lord, let me not be put to shame; for I have called on thee: let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent, [passing] to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)

18 Shut the mouths of those who tell lies against good people—those who speak contemptuously in their pride and arrogance!

Let the lying lips be made dumb, which speak hard things against the righteous, with pride and contempt.

19 How wonderful is the goodness you have reserved for those who honor you! In front of everyone you give this goodness to those who come to you for help.

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast treasured up for those that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for those that trust in thee before the sons of men!

20 You shelter and protect them with your presence, far from their enemies who scheme against them. You keep them safe from attacks and accusations.

Thou wilt conceal them in the secret of thy presence from the conspiracy of men: thou wilt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

21 Bless the Lord, for he has shown me his wonderful trustworthy love when my city was being attacked

Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shown me his kindness wonderfully in a beleaguered city.

22 Terrified I cried out, “I am being destroyed right in front of you!” But you heard my cry when I called out for you to help me.

And yet had I said in my despondency, I am cut off from before thy eyes: nevertheless thou didst hear the voice of my supplications when I cried loudly unto thee.

23 Love the Lord, all you who trust in him! The Lord takes care of those who trust him, but he pays back in full those who are arrogant.

Oh love the Lord, all ye his pious ones: the Lord preserveth the faithful, and recompenses the presumption of him that acteth proudly.

24 Be strong and be confident, all you who put your hope in the Lord.

Be strong, and let your heart be of good courage, all ye that hope in the Lord.