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.
Yahweh, I have come to you to be protected; do not allow me to be [defeated, with the result that I am] disgraced. Since you always do what is fair/right, rescue me!
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.
Listen to me, and save me right now! Be [like] a huge rock [under which I can hide] [MET] and [like] a strong fort in which I will be safe.
3 For thou art my strength and my refuge; and for thy name’s sake thou wilt lead me, and nourish me.
Yes, you are [like] my huge rock and my fort; guide me and lead me [DOU] in order that I can honor you [MTY].
4 Thou wilt bring me out of this snare, which they have hidden for me: for thou art my protector.
You are the one who protects me, so keep me from falling into the hidden traps [that my enemies have set for me].
5 Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth.
Yahweh, you are a God who can be trusted, so I put myself into your care because you rescued me.
6 Thou hast hated them that regard vanities, to no purpose. But I have hoped in the Lord:
Yahweh, I hate those who worship useless idols, but I trust in you.
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 be very glad [DOU] because you faithfully love me. You see me when I have been afflicted, and you have known when I have had troubles.
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 allowed my enemies to capture me; instead, you have rescued me from danger.
9 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am afflicted: my eye is troubled with wrath, my soul, and my belly:
[But now], Yahweh, be kind to me [again] because I am distressed. Because I cry [so much], I cannot see well, and I am completely exhausted.
10 For my life is wasted with grief: and my years in sighs. My strength is weakened through poverty and my bones are disturbed.
I have become very weak because I am [so] miserable, and it is causing my life to become shorter. I have become weak because of all my troubles; even my bones are becoming weaker.
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.
All of my enemies make fun of me, and [even] my neighbors despise me. [Even] my friends are afraid of me [because they think I am being punished by God], and when they see me on the streets, they run away.
12 I am forgotten as one dead from the heart. I am become as a vessel that is destroyed.
People have forgotten me like they forget people who are dead. [They think I am as useless] as a broken pot.
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 have heard people slandering me, and they have caused me to become terrified. My enemies are making plans in order to kill me.
14 But I have put my trust in thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my God.
But Yahweh, I trust in you. You are my God.
15 My lots are in thy hands. Deliver me out of the hands of my enemies; and from them that persecute me.
My whole life [MTY] is in your hands; save me from my enemies, from those who pursue me.
16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; save me in thy mercy.
Be kind to me and rescue me because you always faithfully love me.
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)
Yahweh, I call out to you, so do not allow me to be disgraced. I desire that wicked people will be disgraced; I want them to [soon die and] go down to the place where the dead people are. (Sheol h7585)
18 Let deceitful lips be made dumb. Which speak iniquity against the just, with pride and abuse.
I desire that you will cause people [MTY] who tell lies to be unable to speak. Do that to people who are proud and those who arrogantly accuse righteous people.
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.
You have stored up many blessings for those who revere you. You do those good things for those who go to you to be protected; everyone sees you doing that.
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.
You hide people in your presence where it is safe, and protect them from people who plot [to kill them]. You hide them in safe places from their enemies [MTY] who accuse/insult them.
21 Blessed be the Lord, for he hath shewn his wonderful mercy to me in a fortified city.
Praise Yahweh! When my enemies surrounded the city [in which I was living], he showed me in a wonderful way that he faithfully loves me.
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.
I was afraid, and I cried out, “I have been separated from Yahweh!” but you heard me and answered my cry 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.
You people who belong to Yahweh, love him! Those who are loyal to him, he protects, but those who are very proud, he punishes them severely like they deserve to be punished.
24 Do ye manfully, and let your heart be strengthened, all ye that hope in the Lord.
You who confidently expect Yahweh [to do great things for you], be strong, be courageous!
