Psalms 71

1 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.

In thee, O Jehovah, do I take refuge: Let me never be put to shame.

2 Free me by your justice, and rescue me. Incline your ear to me, and save me.

Deliver me in thy righteousness, and rescue me: Bow down thine ear unto me, and save me.

3 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.

Be thou to me a rock of habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: Thou hast given commandment to save me; For thou art my rock and my fortress.

4 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.

Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

5 For you, O Lord, are my patience: my hope from my youth, O Lord.

For thou art my hope, O Lord Jehovah: [Thou art] my trust from my youth.

6 In you, I have been confirmed from conception. From my mother’s womb, you are my protector. In you, I will sing forever.

By thee have I been holden up from the womb; Thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: My praise shall be continually of thee.

7 I have become to many as if I were a portent, but you are a strong helper.

I am as a wonder unto many; But thou art my strong refuge.

8 Let my mouth be filled with praise, so that I may sing your glory, your greatness all day long.

My mouth shall be filled with thy praise, And with thy honor all the day.

9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age. Do not abandon me when my strength will fail.

Cast me not off in the time of old age; Forsake me not when my strength faileth.

10 For my enemies have spoken against me. And those who watched for my soul have taken counsel as one,

For mine enemies speak concerning me; And they that watch for my soul take counsel together,

11 saying: “God has abandoned him. Pursue and overtake him. For there is no one to rescue him.”

Saying, God hath forsaken him: Pursue and take him; for there is none to deliver.

12 O God, do not be far from me. O my God, provide for my assistance.

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

13 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.

Let them be put to shame [and] consumed that are adversaries to my soul; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor that seek my hurt.

14 But I will always have hope. And I will add more to all your praise.

But I will hope continually, And will praise thee yet more and more.

15 My mouth will announce your justice, your salvation all day long. For I have not known letters.

My mouth shall tell of thy righteousness, [And] of thy salvation all the day; For I know not the numbers [thereof].

16 I will enter into the powers of the Lord. I will be mindful of your justice alone, O Lord.

I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Jehovah: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

17 You have taught me from my youth, O God. And so I will declare your wonders continuously,

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; And hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

18 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

Yea, even when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not, Until I have declared thy strength unto [the next] generation, Thy might to every one that is to come.

19 and your justice, O God, even to the highest great things that you have done. O God, who is like you?

Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high; Thou who hast done great things, O God, who is like unto thee?

20 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.

Thou, who hast showed us many and sore troubles, Wilt quicken us again, And wilt bring us up again from the depths of the earth.

21 You have multiplied your magnificence. And so, turning back to me, you have consoled me.

Increase thou my greatness, And turn again and comfort me.

22 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.

I will also praise thee with the psaltery, [Even] thy truth, O my God: Unto thee will I sing praises with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips will exult, when I sing to you, and also my soul, which you have redeemed.

My lips shall shout for joy when I sing praises unto thee; And my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

24 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.

My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long; For they are put to shame, for they are confounded, that seek my hurt.