Psalms 71

1 A psalm for David. Of the sons of Jonadab, and the former captives. In thee, O Lord, I have hoped, let me never be put to confusion:

In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.

2 Deliver me in thy justice, and rescue me. Incline thy ear unto me, and save me.

In Your justice, rescue and deliver me; incline Your ear and save me.

3 Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a place of strength: that thou mayst make me safe. For thou art my firmament and my refuge.

Be my rock of refuge, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.

4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the sinner, and out of the hand of the transgressor of the law and of the unjust.

Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and ruthless.

5 For thou art my patience, O Lord: my hope, O Lord, from my youth;

For You are my hope, O Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth.

6 By thee have I been confirmed from the womb: from my mother’s womb thou art my protector. Of thee shall I continually sing:

I have leaned on You since birth; You pulled me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always for You.

7 I run become unto many as a wonder, but thou art a strong helper.

I have become a portent to many, but You are my strong refuge.

8 Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may sing thy glory; thy greatness all the day long.

My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your splendor all day long.

9 Cast me not off in the time of old age: when my strength shall fail, do not thou forsake me.

Do not discard me in my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.

10 For my enemies have spoken against me; and they that watched my soul have consulted together,

For my enemies speak against me, and those who lie in wait for my life conspire,

11 Saying: God hath forsaken him: pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him.

saying, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for there is no one to rescue him.”

12 O God, be not thou far from me: O my God, make haste to my help.

Be not far from me, O God. Hurry, O my God, to help me.

13 Let them be confounded and come to nothing that detract my soul; let them be covered with confusion and shame that seek my hurt.

May the accusers of my soul be ashamed and consumed; may those who seek my harm be covered with scorn and disgrace.

14 But I will always hope; and will add to all thy praise.

But I will always hope and will praise You more and more.

15 My mouth shall shew forth thy justice; thy salvation all the day long. Because I have not known learning,

My mouth will declare Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot know their full measure.

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

I will enter in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will proclaim Your righteousness—Yours alone.

17 Thou hast taught me, O God, from my youth: and till now I will declare thy wonderful works.

O God, You have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds.

18 And unto old age and grey hairs: O God, forsake me not, Until I shew forth thy arm to all the generation that is to come: Thy power,

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.

19 And thy justice, O God, even to the highest great things thou hast done: O God, who is like to thee?

Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You?

20 How great troubles hast thou shewn me, many and grievous: and turning thou hast brought me to life, and hast brought me back again from the depths of the earth:

Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes, You will revive me once again. Even from the depths of the earth You will bring me back up.

21 Thou hast multiplied thy magnificence; and turning to me thou hast comforted me.

You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.

22 For I will also confess to thee thy truth with the instruments of psaltery: O God, I will sing to thee with the harp, thou holy one of Israel.

So I will praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to You with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips shall greatly rejoice, when I shall sing to thee; and my soul which thou hast redeemed.

When I sing praise to You my lips will shout for joy, along with my soul, which You have redeemed.

24 Yea and my tongue shall meditate on thy justice all the day; when they shall be confounded and put to shame that seek evils to me.

My tongue will indeed proclaim Your righteousness all day long, for those who seek my harm are disgraced and confounded.