Psalms 31

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

For the chief musician. A psalm of David. In you, Yahweh, I take refuge; never let me be humiliated. Rescue me in your righteousness.

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

Listen to me; rescue me quickly; be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to save me.

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

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

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

Pluck me out of the net that they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge.

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

Into your hands I entrust my spirit; you will redeem me, Yahweh, God of trustworthiness.

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

I hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in Yahweh.

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

I will be glad and rejoice in your covenant faithfulness, for you saw my affliction; you knew the distress of my soul.

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

You have not given me into the hand of my enemy. You have set my feet in a wide open place.

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

Have mercy upon me, Yahweh, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weary with grief with my soul and my body.

10 For my life is spent with sorrow, my years with sighing. My strength fails because of my iniquity. My bones are wasted away.

For my life is weary with sorrow and my years with groaning. My strength fails because of my sin, and my bones are wasting away.

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

Because of all my enemies, people disdain me; my neighbors are appalled at my situation, and those who know me are horrified. Those who see me in the street run from me.

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

I am forgotten as a dead man whom no one thinks about. I am like a broken pot.

13 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.

For I have heard the whispering of many, terrifying news from every side as they plot together against me. They plot to take away my life.

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

But I trust in you, Yahweh; I say, “You are my God.”

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

My times are in your hand. Rescue me from the hands of my enemies and from those who pursue me.

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

Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your covenant faithfulness.

17 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)

Do not let me be humiliated, Yahweh; for I call out to you! May the wicked be humiliated! May they be silent in Sheol. (Sheol h7585)

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

May lying lips be silenced that speak against the righteous defiantly with arrogance and contempt.

19 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!

How great is your goodness that you have stored up for those who revere you, that you perform for those who take refuge in you before all the children of mankind!

20 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.

In the shelter of your presence, you hide them from the plots of men. You hide them in a shelter from the violence of tongues.

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

Blessed be Yahweh, for he showed me his marvelous covenant faithfulness when I was in a besieged city.

22 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.

Though I said in my haste, “I am cut off from your eyes,” yet you heard my plea for help when I cried to you.

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

Oh, love Yahweh, all you faithful followers. Yahweh protects the faithful, but he pays back the arrogant in full.

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

Be strong and confident, all you who trust in Yahweh for help.