Psalms 71

1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

A Psalm of David. Of the sons of Jonadab and the former captives. In you, O Lord, I have hoped; do not let me be brought to ruin forever.

2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thy ear to me, and save me.

Free me by your justice, and rescue me. Incline your ear to me, and save me.

3 Be thou my strong habitation, where I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Be a God of protection and a place of strength for me, so that you may accomplish my salvation. For you are my firmament and my refuge.

4 Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the sinner, and from the hand of the unjust and those who act against the law.

5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

For you, O Lord, are my patience: my hope from my youth, O Lord.

6 By thee have I been sustained from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s womb: my praise shall be continually of thee.

In you, I have been confirmed from conception. From my mother’s womb, you are my protector. In you, I will sing forever.

7 I am as a wonder to many; but thou art my strong refuge.

I have become to many as if I were a portent, but you are a strong helper.

8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

Let my mouth be filled with praise, so that I may sing your glory, your greatness all day long.

9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

Do not cast me off in the time of old age. Do not abandon me when my strength will fail.

10 For my enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,

For my enemies have spoken against me. And those who watched for my soul have taken counsel as one,

11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

saying: “God has abandoned him. Pursue and overtake him. For there is no one to rescue him.”

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

O God, do not be far from me. O my God, provide for my assistance.

13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

May they be confounded, and may they fail, who drag down my soul. Let them be covered with confusion and shame, who seek evils for me.

14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

But I will always have hope. And I will add more to all your praise.

15 My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not their numbers.

My mouth will announce your justice, your salvation all day long. For I have not known letters.

16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

I will enter into the powers of the Lord. I will be mindful of your justice alone, O Lord.

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and to this day have I declared thy wondrous works.

You have taught me from my youth, O God. And so I will declare your wonders continuously,

18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shown thy strength to this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

even in old age and with grey hairs. Do not abandon me, O God, while I announce your arm to every future generation: your power

19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like thee!

and your justice, O God, even to the highest great things that you have done. O God, who is like you?

20 Thou, who hast shown me great and many troubles, wilt revive me again, and shalt bring me again from the depths of the earth.

How great is the tribulation that you have revealed to me: very great and evil. And so, turning back, you have brought me to life, and you have led me back again from the abyss of the earth.

21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

You have multiplied your magnificence. And so, turning back to me, you have consoled me.

22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: to thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

Therefore, I will confess your truth to you, with the instruments of the Psalter. O God, I will sing psalms to you with stringed instruments, O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to thee; and my soul, whom thou hast redeemed.

My lips will exult, when I sing to you, and also my soul, which you have redeemed.

24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought to shame, that seek my hurt.

And even my tongue will meditate on your justice all day long, when those who seek evils for me have been confounded and set in awe.