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 you, LORD, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed.

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

Deliver me in your righteousness, and rescue me. Turn your ear to 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 to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for you are 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, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

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

For you are my hope, LORD; my confidence 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.

I have relied on you from the womb. From my mother's womb you are my strength. I will always praise you.

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

I am a marvel to many, but you are 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 your praise, with your 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.

Do not reject me in my old age. Do not forsake me when my strength fails.

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

For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together,

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

saying, "God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him."

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

God, do not be far from me. My God, hurry 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 my accusers be put to shame and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me.

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

But I will always hope, and will add to all of your praise.

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

My mouth will tell about your righteousness, and of your salvation all day, though I do not know its full measure.

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 GOD. I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone.

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

God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your 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

Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, do not forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who 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?

Your righteousness also, God, reaches to the heavens; you have done great things. God, who is like you?

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.

You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles, you will let me live. You will 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 my honor, and comfort me again.

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 you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God. I sing praises to you with the lyre, 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. My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you.

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 will also talk about your righteousness all day long, for they are disappointed, and they are confounded, who want to harm me.