Psalms 31

1 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.

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;

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

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

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

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

4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me: for thou art my strength.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: my eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my body.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13 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.

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

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

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

15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from them that persecute me.

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

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

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

17 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)

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)

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

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

19 O 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!

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!

20 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.

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

21 Blessed be the LORD: for he hath showed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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