Psalms 71
1 By David, [a Psalm sung by] the sons of Jonadab, and the first that were taken captive. O Lord, I have hoped in thee: let me never be put to shame.
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 In thy righteousness deliver me and rescue me: incline thine ear to me, and save me.
Free me by your justice, and rescue me. Incline your ear to me, and save me.
3 Be to me a protecting God, and a strong hold to save me: for thou art my fortress and my refuge.
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 sinner, from the hand of the transgressor and unjust 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 support, O Lord; O Lord, [thou art] my hope from my youth.
For you, O Lord, are my patience: my hope from my youth, O Lord.
6 On thee have I been stayed from the womb: from the belly of my mother thou art my protector: of thee is my praise continually.
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 become as it were a wonder to many: but thou art [my] strong helper.
I have become to many as if I were a portent, but you are a strong helper.
8 Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may hymn thy glory, [and] thy majesty 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 at the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength fails.
Do not cast me off in the time of old age. Do not abandon me when my strength will fail.
10 For mine enemies have spoken against me; and they that lay wait for my soul have taken counsel together,
For my enemies have spoken against me. And those who watched for my soul have taken counsel as one,
11 saying, God has forsaken him: persecute ye 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, go not far from me, O my God, draw nigh to my help.
O God, do not be far from me. O my God, provide for my assistance.
13 Let those that plot against my soul be ashamed and utterly fail: let those that seek my hurt be clothed with shame and dishonour.
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 praise thee more and more.
But I will always have hope. And I will add more to all your praise.
15 My mouth shall declare thy righteousness openly, [and] thy salvation all the day; for I am not acquainted with the affairs [of men].
My mouth will announce your justice, your salvation all day long. For I have not known letters.
16 I will go on in the might of the Lord: O Lord, I will make mention of thy righteousness 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 until now will I declare thy wonders;
You have taught me from my youth, O God. And so I will declare your wonders continuously,
18 even until I am old and advanced in years. O God, forsake me not; until I shall have declared thine arm to all the generation 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 even thy power and thy righteousness, O God, up to the highest [heavens, even] the mighty works which thou has done: O God, who is like to thee?
and your justice, O God, even to the highest great things that you have done. O God, who is like you?
20 What afflictions many and sore hast thou shewed me! yet thou didst turn and quicken me, and broughtest 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 didst multiply thy righteousness, and didst turn and comfort me, and broughtest me again out of the depths of the earth.
You have multiplied your magnificence. And so, turning back to me, you have consoled me.
22 I will also therefore give thanks to thee, O God, [because of] thy truth, on an instrument of psalmody: I will sing psalms to thee on the harp, O 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 rejoice when I sing to thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
My lips will exult, when I sing to you, and also my soul, which you have redeemed.
24 Moreover also my tongue shall dwell all the day upon thy righteousness; when they shall be ashamed and confounded 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.
