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! do I put my trust! Let me never be put to shame!

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

In thy goodness deliver and rescue me; Incline thine 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 thou the rock of my abode, where I may continually resort! Thou hast granted me deliverance; 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.

Save me, O my God! from the hand of the wicked, -From the hand of the unjust and cruel!

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

For thou art my hope, O Lord Jehovah! Thou hast been 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 leaned from my birth; From my earliest breath thou hast been my support; My song hath been continually of thee!

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

I am a wonder to 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.

Let my mouth be filled with thy praise; Yea, all the day long, with thy glory.

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 mine 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 my enemies speak against me, And they who lay wait for my life consult together:

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

“God,” say they, “hath forsaken him; Pursue and seize him; for he hath none to deliver him!”

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

O God! be not far from me! Come speedily to mine aid, O my God!

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 perish with shame who are my enemies; Let them be covered with contempt and dishonor who seek my hurt!

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

But I will hope continually; I shall yet praise thee more and more.

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

My mouth shall speak of thy goodness, —Of thy sure protection all the day long; For thy mercies are more than I can number.

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

I will celebrate thy mighty deeds, O Lord Jehovah! I will make mention of thy goodness, 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 thus far have I declared thy wondrous deeds;

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 now, when I am old and gray-headed, O God! forsake me not, Until I make known thine arm to the next generation, -Thy mighty power to all that are to come!

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

For thy goodness, O God! reacheth to the heavens; Wonderful things doest thou! 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 hast suffered us to see great and grievous troubles; Thou wilt again give us life, And wilt bring us back 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; Thou wilt again 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.

Then will I praise thee with the psaltery; Even thy faithfulness, O my God! To thee will I sing with the harp, O 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 rejoice, when I sing to thee; And my soul, which thou hast redeemed from death;

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 continually speak of thy righteousness: For all who seek my hurt are brought to shame and confounded.