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.

In you, O Lord, I take refuge, let me never be put to shame.

2 In thy righteousness deliver me and rescue me: incline thine ear to me, and save me.

In your faithfulness save me and rescue me, bend 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 to me a rock of defence, a fortified house, to save me; for my rock and my fortress are you.

4 Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the sinner, from the hand of the transgressor and unjust man.

Save me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.

5 For thou art my support, O Lord; O Lord, [thou art] my hope from my youth.

For you, Lord, are my hope, in whom from my youth I have trusted.

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.

On you have I leaned from my birth; from my mother’s womb it was you who did draw me. In you is my hope evermore.

7 I am become as it were a wonder to many: but thou art [my] strong helper.

I have been as a wonder to many, for you are my refuge and strength.

8 Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may hymn thy glory, [and] thy majesty all the day.

All the day long my mouth is filled with your praise and your glory.

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

Cast me not off in the time of old age; when my strength is spent, forsake me not.

10 For mine enemies have spoken against me; and they that lay wait for my soul have taken counsel together,

For my foes whisper against me, they who watch me take counsel together;

11 saying, God has forsaken him: persecute ye and take him; for there is none to deliver [him].

“God has left him,” they say: “pursue and seize him, for he is helpless.”

12 O God, go not far from me, O my God, draw nigh to my help.

O God, be not far from me, haste, O my God, to my help.

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.

Put my foes to shame and dishonor, with insult and shame be they covered.

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

But I will never stop hoping, and more and yet more will I praise you.

15 My mouth shall declare thy righteousness openly, [and] thy salvation all the day; for I am not acquainted with the affairs [of men].

All the day long shall my mouth tell your faithfulness and your salvation, though I know not how they may be counted.

16 I will go on in the might of the Lord: O Lord, I will make mention of thy righteousness only.

I will tell of the might of the Lord, and your faithfulness praise, you alone.

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth, and until now will I declare thy wonders;

You have taught me, O God, from my youth, and till now have I told of your wonders.

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 grey hair, O God, do not forsake me. Still would I tell of your might unto all generations to come.

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?

Your power and your justice, O God, extend as far as the heavens: for great are the things you have done. Who is like you, O God?

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.

You have caused us to see troubles many, but you will revive us again. From the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.

21 Thou didst multiply thy righteousness, and didst turn and comfort me, and broughtest me again out of the depths of the earth.

You will multiply my greatness, and comfort me again.

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.

So with harp I will praise you, and your faithfulness, O my God; and make music to you on the lyre, O you Holy One of Israel.

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

My lips shall ring out their joy, my mouth shall sing praises to you; all of me, 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.

Yes, all the day long shall my tongue utter your righteousness; for ashamed and confounded are they who were seeking my hurt.