Psalms 31
1 Unto the end, a psalm for David, in an ecstasy. In thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded: deliver me in thy justice.
For the leader. A psalm of David. In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. Rescue me in your faithfulness;
2 Bow down thy ear to me: make haste to deliver me. Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save me.
incline to me your ear. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a rock of defence, a fortified house, to save me.
3 For thou art my strength and my refuge; and for thy name’s sake thou wilt lead me, and nourish me.
For my rock and my fortress are you; lead me and guide me so your name will be honored.
4 Thou wilt bring me out of this snare, which they have hidden for me: for thou art my protector.
Draw me out of the net they have hid for me, for you yourself are my refuge.
5 Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth.
Into your hand I commend my spirit: you ransom me, Lord, faithful God.
6 Thou hast hated them that regard vanities, to no purpose. But I have hoped in the Lord:
I hate those devoted to worthless idols; I trust in the Lord.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy. For thou best regarded my humility, thou hast saved my soul out of distresses.
I will rejoice and be glad in your love, because you have looked on my misery, and cared for me in my distress.
8 And thou hast not shut me up in the hands of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a spacious place.
You have not given me into the enemy’s hand, you have set my feet in a spacious place.
9 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am afflicted: my eye is troubled with wrath, my soul, and my belly:
Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am distressed; my eye is wasted away with sorrow.
10 For my life is wasted with grief: and my years in sighs. My strength is weakened through poverty and my bones are disturbed.
For my life is consumed with grief, and my years with sighing. My strength is broken with misery, my bones waste away.
11 I am become a reproach among all my enemies, and very much to my neighbours; and a fear to my acquaintance. They that saw me without fled from me.
The scorn of all my foes, the butt of my neighbors am I, a terror to my acquaintance. At the sight of me in the street people turn quickly away.
12 I am forgotten as one dead from the heart. I am become as a vessel that is destroyed.
I am clean forgotten like the dead, am become like a ruined vessel.
13 For I have heard the blame of many that dwell round about. While they assembled together against me, they consulted to take away my life.
I hear the whispers of many – terror on every side – scheming together against me, plotting to take my life.
14 But I have put my trust in thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my God.
But my trust is in you, Lord. “You are my God,” I say;
15 My lots are in thy hands. Deliver me out of the hands of my enemies; and from them that persecute me.
my times are in your hand, save me from the hand of the foes who pursue me.
16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; save me in thy mercy.
Make your face to shine on your servant, save me in your love.
17 Let me not be confounded, O Lord, for I have called upon thee. Let the wicked be ashamed, and be brought down to hell. (Sheol h7585)
Put me not, O Lord, to shame, for I have called upon you. Let the wicked be put to shame silent in Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
18 Let deceitful lips be made dumb. Which speak iniquity against the just, with pride and abuse.
Strike the false lips dumb, that speak proudly against the righteous with haughtiness and contempt.
19 O how great is the multitude of thy sweetness, O Lord, which thou hast hidden for them that fear thee! Which thou hast wrought for them that hope in thee, in the sight of the sons of men.
How great is the goodness you have treasured for those who fear you, and wrought for those who take refuge in you, in plain sight of all!
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy face, from the disturbance of men. Thou shalt protect them in thy tabernacle from the contradiction of tongues.
In your sheltering wings you hide them from plottings of people, you keep them safe in a bower from the chiding of tongues.
21 Blessed be the Lord, for he hath shewn his wonderful mercy to me in a fortified city.
Blest be the Lord for the wonderful love he has shown me in time of distress.
22 But I said in the excess of my mind: I am cast away from before thy eyes. Therefore thou hast heard the voice of my prayer, when I cried to thee.
For I had said in panic, “I am driven clean out of your sight.” But you heard my plea, when I cried to you for help.
23 O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord will require truth, and will repay them abundantly that act proudly.
Love the Lord, all you faithful; the Lord protects the loyal, but repays the haughty in full.
24 Do ye manfully, and let your heart be strengthened, all ye that hope in the Lord.
Let your hearts be courageous and strong, all you who wait on the Lord.
