Psalms 31

1 For the leader. A psalm of David. In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. Rescue me in your faithfulness;

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

2 incline to me your ear. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a rock of defence, a fortified house, to save me.

Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

3 For my rock and my fortress are you; lead me and guide me so your name will be honoured.

For thou [art] my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.

4 Draw me out of the net they have hid for me, for you yourself are my refuge.

Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou [art] my strength.

5 Into your hand I commend my spirit: you ransom me, Lord, faithful God.

Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

6 I hate those devoted to worthless idols; I trust in the Lord.

I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.

7 I will rejoice and be glad in your love, because you have looked on my misery, and cared for me in my distress.

I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

8 You have not given me into the enemy’s hand, you have set my feet in a spacious place.

And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

9 Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am distressed; my eye is wasted away with sorrow.

Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, [yea], my soul and my belly.

10 For my life is consumed with grief, and my years with sighing. My strength is broken with misery, my bones waste away.

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

11 The scorn of all my foes, the butt of my neighbours am I, a terror to my acquaintance. At the sight of me in the street people turn quickly away.

I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.

12 I am clean forgotten like the dead, am become like a ruined vessel.

I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.

13 I hear the whispers of many – terror on every side – scheming together against me, plotting to take my life.

For I have heard the slander of many: fear [was] on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

14 But my trust is in you, Lord. ‘You are my God,’ I say;

But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou [art] my God.

15 my times are in your hand, save me from the hand of the foes who pursue me.

My times [are] in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

16 Make your face to shine on your servant, save me in your love.

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.

17 Put me not, O Lord, to shame, for I have called upon you. Let the wicked be put to shame silent in Sheol. (Sheol h7585)

Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, [and] let them be silent in the grave. (Sheol h7585)

18 Strike the false lips dumb, that speak proudly against the righteous with haughtiness and contempt.

Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

19 How great is the goodness you have treasured for those who fear you, and wrought for those who take refuge in you, in plain sight of all!

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

20 In your sheltering wings you hide them from plottings of people, you keep them safe in a bower from the chiding of tongues.

Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

21 Blest be the Lord for the wonderful love he has shown me in time of distress.

Blessed [be] the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.

22 For I had said in panic, ‘I am driven clean out of your sight.’ But you heard my plea, when I cried to you for help.

For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

23 Love the Lord, all you faithful; the Lord protects the loyal, but repays the haughty in full.

O love the LORD, all ye his saints: [for] the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

24 Let your hearts be courageous and strong, all you who wait on the Lord.

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.