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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 redeem me, LORD, God of truth.

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

I hate those who regard lying vanities, but 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 be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities.

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 shut me up into the hand of the enemy. You have set my feet in a large 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute 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 loving kindness.

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)

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

Let the lying lips be mute, which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride 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!

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!

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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