Psalms 31

1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; save me by Your righteousness.

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!

2 Incline Your ear to me; come quickly to my rescue. Be my rock of refuge, the stronghold of my deliverance.

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.

3 For You are my rock and my fortress; lead me and guide me for the sake of Your name.

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

4 You free me from the net laid out for me, for You are my refuge.

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

5 Into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, God of truth.

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

6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols, but in the LORD I trust.

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

7 I will be glad and rejoice in Your loving devotion, for You have seen my affliction; You have known the anguish of my soul.

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.

8 You have not delivered me to the enemy; You have set my feet in the open.

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

9 Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well.

[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.

10 For my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my iniquity has drained my strength, and my bones are wasting away.

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.

11 Among all my enemies I am a disgrace, and among my neighbors even more. I am dreaded by my friends— they flee when they see me on the street.

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.

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

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

13 For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

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

14 But I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.”

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

15 My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

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

16 Make Your face shine on Your servant; save me by Your loving devotion.

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

17 O LORD, let me not be ashamed, for I have called on You. Let the wicked be put to shame; let them lie silent in Sheol. (Sheol h7585)

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)

18 May lying lips be silenced— lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous, full of pride and contempt.

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.

19 How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You!

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.

20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the schemes of men. You conceal them in Your shelter from accusing tongues.

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.

21 Blessed be the LORD, for He has shown me His loving devotion in a city under siege.

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.

22 In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from Your sight!” But You heard my plea for mercy when I called to You for help.

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

23 Love the LORD, all His saints. The LORD preserves the faithful, but fully repays the arrogant.

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.

24 Be strong and courageous, all you who hope in the LORD.

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