Psalms 71

1 In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.

Yahweh, I have come to you to (get refuge/be protected); never allow me to become ashamed [because of being defeated].

2 In Your justice, rescue and deliver me; incline Your ear and save me.

Because you always do what is right, help me and rescue me; listen to me, and save me!

3 Be my rock of refuge, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.

Be [like an overhanging] rock [MET] under which I [can be] safe/protected; [be like] a strong fortress in which I am safe [DOU]. You [continually] command (OR, [Continually] command) [your angels] to rescue me.

4 Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and ruthless.

God, rescue me from wicked [people], from the power of unjust and evil men.

5 For You are my hope, O Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth.

Yahweh, my Lord, you are the one whom I confidently expect [to help me]; I have trusted in you since I was young.

6 I have leaned on You since birth; You pulled me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always for You.

I have depended on you all my life; you have taken care of me [IDM] since the day that I was born, [so] I will always praise you.

7 I have become a portent to many, but You are my strong refuge.

The manner in which I have conducted my life has been an example to many [people], because [they realize that] you have been my strong defender.

8 My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your splendor all day long.

I praise you all day long, and I proclaim that you are glorious/wonderful.

9 Do not discard me in my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.

Now, when I have become an old man, do not reject/abandon me; do not abandon me now, when I am not strong any more.

10 For my enemies speak against me, and those who lie in wait for my life conspire,

My enemies say [that they want to kill] me; they plan together [how they can do that].

11 saying, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for there is no one to rescue him.”

They say [about me], “God has abandoned him; so now we can pursue him and seize him, because there is no one who will rescue him.”

12 Be not far from me, O God. Hurry, O my God, to help me.

God, do not stay far away from me; hurry to help me!

13 May the accusers of my soul be ashamed and consumed; may those who seek my harm be covered with scorn and disgrace.

Cause those who (accuse me/say that I have done things that are wrong) to be defeated and destroyed; cause those who want to harm me to be shamed and disgraced.

14 But I will always hope and will praise You more and more.

But [as for me], I will continually and confidently expect [you to do great things for me], and I will praise you more and more.

15 My mouth will declare Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot know their full measure.

I will tell people that you do what is right; all day long I will tell people how you have saved me, although what you have done is more than I can fully understand.

16 I will enter in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will proclaim Your righteousness—Yours alone.

Yahweh, my Lord, I will praise you for your mighty deeds; I will proclaim that only you always act justly.

17 O God, You have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds.

God, you have taught me [many/those things] ever since I was young, and I still tell people about your wonderful deeds.

18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.

And now, God, when I am old and my hair is gray, do not abandon me. [Stay with me] while I continue to proclaim to my children and grandchildren [HYP] that you are [very] powerful!

19 Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You?

God, you do many righteous deeds; [it is as though] they extend up to the sky. You have done great things; there is no one like you [RHQ].

20 Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes, You will revive me once again. Even from the depths of the earth You will bring me back up.

You have caused me to have many troubles and to suffer much, [but] you will cause me to become strong again; when I am almost dead [HYP], you will keep me alive.

21 You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.

You will cause me to be greatly honored and you will encourage/comfort me again.

22 So I will praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to You with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

I will also praise you [while I play] my harp; I will praise you, my God, for faithfully [doing what you have promised to do]. I will play hymns to praise you, the holy God whom [we] Israelis [worship].

23 When I sing praise to You my lips will shout for joy, along with my soul, which You have redeemed.

I [SYN] will shout joyfully while I play [the harp] for you; with my entire inner being I will sing because you have rescued me.

24 My tongue will indeed proclaim Your righteousness all day long, for those who seek my harm are disgraced and confounded.

All day long I will tell people that you act righteously, because those who wanted to harm me will have been defeated and disgraced.