Psalms 71

1 In Thee, O Jehovah, I have trusted, Let me not be ashamed to the age.

Lord, you are the one who keeps me safe; please don't disappoint me.

2 In Thy righteousness Thou dost deliver me, And dost cause me to escape, Incline unto me Thine ear, and save me.

Save me, rescue me, because you always do what is right.

3 Be to me for a rock — a habitation, To go in continually, Thou hast given command to save me, For my rock and my bulwark [art] Thou.

Please listen to me, and save me. Be my rock of protection where I can always go and hide. You gave the command to save me; for you are my rock and fortress.

4 O my God, cause me to escape From the hand of the wicked, From the hand of the perverse and violent.

My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of those who are evil and brutal.

5 For Thou [art] my hope, O Lord Jehovah, My trust from my youth.

For you, Lord God, are my hope. You are the one I have trusted since I was young.

6 By Thee I have been supported from the womb, From my mother's bowels Thou dost cut me out, In Thee [is] my praise continually.

I have depended on you since birth; you have taken care of me from my mother's womb. That's why I'm always praising you!

7 As a wonder I have been to many, And Thou [art] my strong refuge.

My life has been like a miracle to many people, for you have been my powerful protector.

8 Filled is my mouth [with] Thy praise, All the day [with] Thy beauty.

All day long I am full of praise for you, telling how wonderful you are!

9 Cast me not off at the time of old age, According to the consumption of my power forsake me not.

Don't reject me now I'm getting old. When my strength is gone, please don't abandon me.

10 For mine enemies have spoken against me, And those watching my soul have taken counsel together,

For my enemies are talking about me; those who want to kill me are plotting together.

11 Saying, 'God hath forsaken him, Pursue and catch him, for there is no deliverer.'

They say, “God has given up on him. Let's go after him because there's no one to save him.”

12 O God, be not far from me, O my God, for my help make haste.

God, please don't stay away from me. My God, hurry to help me!

13 They are ashamed, they are consumed, Who are opposing my soul, They are covered [with] reproach and blushing, Who are seeking my evil,

Defeat my accusers, get rid of them! May those who want to cause me trouble be covered with shame and disgrace!

14 And I continually do wait with hope, And have added unto all Thy praise.

As for me, I will go on hoping in you, and I will praise you more and more.

15 My mouth recounteth Thy righteousness, All the day Thy salvation, For I have not known the numbers.

I will talk about your goodness and your salvation every day, even though it's more than I can understand.

16 I come in the might of the Lord Jehovah, I mention Thy righteousness — Thine only.

I will come and explain what the Lord has done. I will remind people that you alone do what is right.

17 God, Thou hast taught me from my youth, And hitherto I declare Thy wonders.

God, you have taught me since I was young, and I still tell others about all the wonderful things you do.

18 And also unto old age and grey hairs, O God, forsake me not, Till I declare Thy strength to a generation, To every one that cometh Thy might.

Even though I'm old and gray, please don't abandon me, God. Let me tell the new generation about your power. Let me explain to all who are to come the great things you do.

19 And Thy righteousness, O God, [is] unto the heights, Because Thou hast done great things, O God, who [is] like Thee?

God, your trustworthy and true nature is higher than the highest heaven! You have done incredible things! God, who is like you?

20 Because Thou hast showed me many and sad distresses, Thou turnest back — Thou revivest me, And from the depths of the earth, Thou turnest back — Thou bringest me up.

You had me face many troubles and plenty of misery, but you will bring me back to life; you will rise me up from the depths of the earth.

21 Thou dost increase my greatness, And Thou surroundest — Thou comfortest me,

You will give me even greater prestige, and you will make me happy again.

22 I also thank Thee with a vessel of psaltery, Thy truth, O my God, I sing to Thee with a harp, O Holy One of Israel,

Then I will praise you on the harp for your trustworthiness, my God. I will sing praises to you on the lyre, Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips cry aloud when I sing praise to Thee, And my soul that Thou hast redeemed,

I will shout for joy as I sing praises to you, for you have redeemed me.

24 My tongue also all the day uttereth Thy righteousness, Because ashamed — because confounded, Have been those seeking my evil!

All day long I will tell about all the good things you have done, for those who tried to cause me misery have been disgraced and humiliated.