Psalms 31

1 “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.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. In you, LORD, I take refuge. Let me never be disappointed. Deliver me in your righteousness.

2 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.

Bow down your ear to me. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a strong rock, a house of defence to save me.

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

For you are my rock and my fortress, therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.

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

Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me, for you are my stronghold.

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

Into your hand I commend my spirit. You redeem me, LORD, God of truth.

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

I hate those who regard lying vanities, but I trust in the LORD.

7 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;

I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities.

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

You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. You have set my feet in a large place.

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

Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am in distress. My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief.

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

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 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.

Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbours, a horror to my acquaintances. Those who saw me on the street fled from me.

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

I am forgotten from their hearts like a dead man. I am like broken pottery.

13 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.

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

But I trust in you, LORD. I said, “You are my God.”

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

My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.

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

Make your face to shine on your servant. Save me in your loving kindness.

17 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)

Let me not be disappointed, LORD, for I have called on you. Let the wicked be disappointed. Let them be silent in Sheol. (Sheol h7585)

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

Let the lying lips be mute, which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.

19 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!

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 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.

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

Praise be to the LORD, for he has shown me his marvellous loving kindness in a strong city.

22 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.

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

Oh love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, and fully recompenses him who behaves arrogantly.

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

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the LORD.