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, Yahweh, 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.
Rescue me and make me safe in your righteousness; 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 for refuge where I may always go; you have given a 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, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel.
5 For you, O Lord, are my patience: my hope from my youth, O Lord.
For you are my hope, Lord Yahweh. I have trusted in you ever since I was a child.
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 you I have been supported from the womb; you are he who took me out of my mother's belly; my praise will be always about you.
7 I have become to many as if I were a portent, but you are a strong helper.
I am an example to many people; 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 will be filled with your praise, all the day with your honor.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age. Do not abandon me when my strength will fail.
Do not throw me away in my time of old age; do not abandon 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 are talking about me; those who watch for my life are plotting together.
11 saying: “God has abandoned him. Pursue and overtake him. For there is no one to rescue him.”
They say, “God has forsaken him; pursue and take him, for there is no one to save 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 them be put to shame and destroyed, those who are hostile to my life; let them be covered with rebuke and dishonor, those who seek my hurt.
14 But I will always have hope. And I will add more to all your praise.
But I will always hope in you and will praise you more and more.
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 your salvation all the day, although I cannot understand it.
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 Yahweh; I will make mention of your righteousness, 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; even now I declare your wonderful 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
Indeed, even when I am old and gray-headed, God, do not forsake me, as I have been declaring your strength to the next generation, your power 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, is very high; you who 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 made me see many troubles will revive us again and 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.
May you increase my honor; 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 give thanks to you with the harp for your trustworthiness, my God; to you I will sing praises with the harp, Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will exult, when I sing to you, and also my soul, which you have redeemed.
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you— even my soul, which you have 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 will also talk about your righteousness all day long; for they have been put to shame and are confused, those who sought my hurt.
