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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Into your hand I commend my spirit. You redeem me, LORD, God of truth.

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

I hate those who regard lying vanities, but I trust in the LORD.

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 glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities.

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

You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. You have set my feet in a large place.

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

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

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

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.

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

12 I am forgotten like 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 hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take 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 trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.”

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

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

My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.

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

Make your face to shine on your servant. Save me in your loving kindness.

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)

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

Let the lying lips be mute, which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.

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!

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 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the schemes of men. You conceal them in Your shelter from accusing 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 has shown me His loving devotion in a city under siege.

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

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.

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

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

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

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