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;

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

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

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

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 they have hid for me, for you yourself are my refuge.

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

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

Into your hands I commit my spirit. You redeem me, LORD, God of truth.

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

I hate those who 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 your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have 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.

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

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

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

For my life is spent with sorrow, my years with sighing. My strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones waste away.

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.

Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors, A fear to my acquaintances. Those who saw me on the street fled from me.

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

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

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, terror on every side, while they conspire together against me, they plot to take away my life.

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

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

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

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 love.

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

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 disappointed, LORD, for I have called on you. Let the wicked be disappointed. Let them be silent in Sheol. (Sheol h7585)

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

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

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 your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you have worked for those who take refuge in you, before the descendants of Adam.

20 In your sheltering wings you hide them from plottings of people, you keep them safe in a bower from the chiding 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 Blest be the Lord for the wonderful love he has shown me in time of distress.

Praise be to the LORD, for he has shown me his marvelous loving kindness in a besieged 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.

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

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

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

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