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 LORD, have I taken refuge; let me never be ashamed.

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; incline 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 sheltering rock, whereunto I may continually resort, which Thou hast appointed 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.

O my God, rescue me out of the hand of the wicked, out of the grasp of the unrighteous and ruthless man.

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

For Thou art my hope; O Lord GOD, 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.

Upon Thee have I stayed myself from birth; Thou art He that took me out of my mother's womb; my praise is 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 glory 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; when my strength faileth, forsake me not.

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 ashamed and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and confusion that seek my hurt.

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

But as for me, 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 Thy mighty acts, O Lord GOD; 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 until now do I declare 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

And even unto old age and hoary hairs, 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, which reacheth unto high heaven; 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 made me to see many and sore troubles, wilt quicken me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

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

Thou wilt increase my greatness, and turn 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 also will give thanks unto Thee with the psaltery, even unto Thy truth, O my God; I will sing praises unto Thee 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 greatly rejoice 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 tell of Thy righteousness all the day; for they are ashamed, for they are abashed, that seek my hurt.