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 Yahweh, have I sought refuge, May I not be ashamed unto times age-abiding:

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

In thy righteousness, wilt thou rescue me, and deliver me, Incline unto me thine ear, 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 unto me, a Rock to dwell in, a Place of Security, To save me, For, my mountain crag and my stronghold, thou art.

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.

Oh my God, deliver me, From the hand of the lawless one, From the clutch of the perverse and ruthless one;

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

For, thou, art my hope, My Lord, Yahweh, My confidence from my youthful days:

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 severed me, from the body of my mother, Of thee, shall be my praise—continually.

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

A very wonder, have I been unto many, Seeing that, thou, hast been 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, All the day, with thy splendour.

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

Do not cast me off in the time of old age, When my vigour faileth, do not forsake me;

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

For mine enemies have spoken of me, And, they who watch for my life, have taken 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 rescue.

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, to help me, make haste!

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—be consumed, Who are assailing my life, —Let them be covered with reproach and confusion, Who are seeking my hurt.

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

But, I, continually will hope, And will add to all thy praise;

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

My mouth, shall relate thy righteousness, All the day, thy deliverance, For I know not the numbers.

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

I will enter into the mighty doings of My Lord—Yahweh, I will make mention of thy righteousness—thine alone.

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 youthful days, And, hitherto, have I been wont to tell of thy wonders;

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

Even now, therefore, that I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, —Until I tell of thine arm unto a [new] generation, Unto every one that is to come, thy might;

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

And, as for thy righteousness, O God, up on high, Wherein thou hast wrought 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 let us see many distresses and misfortunes, Wilt again bring us to life, And, out of the resounding depths of the earth, wilt again raise us up;

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

Thou wilt increase my greatness, And, on every side, wilt 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 praise thee by the aid of a harp, Thy faithfulness, O my God, —I will make music unto thee with a lyre, 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 make a joyful noise, When I make music unto thee, And my soul which thou hast ransomed;

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.

Even my tongue, all the day, shall softly utter thy righteousness, For they have turned pale—for they have blushed, Who were seeking my hurt.