Psalms 31

1 Yahweh, I have come to you to be protected; do not allow me to be [defeated, with the result that I am] disgraced. Since you always do what is fair/right, rescue me!

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

2 Listen to me, and save me right now! Be [like] a huge rock [under which I can hide] [MET] and [like] a strong fort in which I will be safe.

Incline thine ear to me, deliver me speedily; be a strong rock to me, a house of defence to save me.

3 Yes, you are [like] my huge rock and my fort; guide me and lead me [DOU] in order that I can honor you [MTY].

For thou art my rock and my fortress; and, for thy name's sake, thou wilt lead me and guide me.

4 You are the one who protects me, so keep me from falling into the hidden traps [that my enemies have set for me].

Draw me out of the net that they have hidden for me; for thou art my strength.

5 Yahweh, you are a God who can be trusted, so I put myself into your care because you rescued me.

Into thy hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, Jehovah, [thou] God of truth.

6 Yahweh, I hate those who worship useless idols, but I trust in you.

I have hated them that observe lying vanities; and as for me, I have confided in Jehovah.

7 I will be very glad [DOU] because you faithfully love me. You see me when I have been afflicted, and you have known when I have had troubles.

I will be glad and rejoice in thy loving-kindness, for thou hast seen mine affliction; thou hast known the troubles of my soul,

8 You have not allowed my enemies to capture me; instead, you have rescued me from danger.

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

9 [But now], Yahweh, be kind to me [again] because I am distressed. Because I cry [so much], I cannot see well, and I am completely exhausted.

Be gracious unto me, Jehovah, for I am in trouble: mine eye wasteth away with vexation, my soul and my belly.

10 I have become very weak because I am [so] miserable, and it is causing my life to become shorter. I have become weak because of all my troubles; even my bones are becoming weaker.

For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength faileth through mine iniquity, and my bones are wasted.

11 All of my enemies make fun of me, and [even] my neighbors despise me. [Even] my friends are afraid of me [because they think I am being punished by God], and when they see me on the streets, they run away.

More than to all mine oppressors, I am become exceedingly a reproach, even to my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that see me without flee from me.

12 People have forgotten me like they forget people who are dead. [They think I am as useless] as a broken pot.

I am forgotten in [their] heart as a dead man; I am become like a broken vessel.

13 I have heard people slandering me, and they have caused me to become terrified. My enemies are making plans in order to kill me.

For I have heard the slander of many — terror on every side — when they take counsel together against me: they plot to take away my life.

14 But Yahweh, I trust in you. You are my God.

But I confided in thee, Jehovah; I said, thou art my God.

15 My whole life [MTY] is in your hands; save me from my enemies, from those who pursue me.

My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from my persecutors.

16 Be kind to me and rescue me because you always faithfully love me.

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; save me in thy loving-kindness.

17 Yahweh, I call out to you, so do not allow me to be disgraced. I desire that wicked people will be disgraced; I want them to [soon die and] go down to the place where the dead people are. (Sheol h7585)

Jehovah, let me not be ashamed; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, let them be silent in Sheol. (Sheol h7585)

18 I desire that you will cause people [MTY] who tell lies to be unable to speak. Do that to people who are proud and those who arrogantly accuse righteous people.

Let the lying lips become dumb, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.

19 You have stored up many blessings for those who revere you. You do those good things for those who go to you to be protected; everyone sees you doing that.

[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 You hide people in your presence where it is safe, and protect them from people who plot [to kill them]. You hide them in safe places from their enemies [MTY] who accuse/insult them.

Thou keepest them concealed in the secret of thy presence from the conspiracies of man; thou hidest them in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

21 Praise Yahweh! When my enemies surrounded the city [in which I was living], he showed me in a wonderful way that he faithfully loves me.

Blessed be Jehovah; for he hath shewn me wondrously his loving-kindness in a strong city.

22 I was afraid, and I cried out, “I have been separated from Yahweh!” but you heard me and answered my cry for help.

As for me, 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 You people who belong to Yahweh, love him! Those who are loyal to him, he protects, but those who are very proud, he punishes them severely like they deserve to be punished.

Love Jehovah, all ye his saints. Jehovah preserveth the faithful, and plentifully requiteth the proud doer.

24 You who confidently expect Yahweh [to do great things for you], be strong, be courageous!

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all ye that hope in Jehovah.