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 take 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 faithfulness save me and rescue me, bend your ear to me 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 to me a rock of defence, a fortified house, to save me; for my rock and my fortress are you.
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.
Save me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.
5 For thou art my patience, O Lord: my hope, O Lord, from my youth;
For you, Lord, are my hope, in whom from my youth I have trusted.
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:
On you have I leaned from my birth; from my mother’s womb it was you who did draw me. In you is my hope evermore.
7 I run become unto many as a wonder, but thou art a strong helper.
I have been as a wonder to many, for you are my refuge and strength.
8 Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may sing thy glory; thy greatness all the day long.
All the day long my mouth is filled with your praise and your glory.
9 Cast me not off in the time of old age: when my strength shall fail, do not thou forsake me.
Cast me not off in the time of old age; when my strength is spent, forsake me not.
10 For my enemies have spoken against me; and they that watched my soul have consulted together,
For my foes whisper against me, they who watch me take counsel together;
11 Saying: God hath forsaken him: pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him.
“God has left him,” they say: “pursue and seize him, for he is helpless.”
12 O God, be not thou far from me: O my God, make haste to my help.
O God, be not far from me, haste, O my God, to my help.
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.
Put my foes to shame and dishonor, with insult and shame be they covered.
14 But I will always hope; and will add to all thy praise.
But I will never stop hoping, and more and yet more will I praise you.
15 My mouth shall shew forth thy justice; thy salvation all the day long. Because I have not known learning,
All the day long shall my mouth tell your faithfulness and your salvation, though I know not how they may be counted.
16 I will enter into the powers of the Lord: O Lord, I will be mindful of thy justice alone.
I will tell of the might of the Lord, and your faithfulness praise, you alone.
17 Thou hast taught me, O God, from my youth: and till now I will declare thy wonderful works.
You have taught me, O God, from my youth, and till now have I told of your wonders.
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 in old age and grey hair, O God, do not forsake me. Still would I tell of your might unto all generations 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 power and your justice, O God, extend as far as the heavens: for great are the things you have done. Who is like you, O God?
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:
You have caused us to see troubles many, but you will revive us again. From the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.
21 Thou hast multiplied thy magnificence; and turning to me thou hast comforted me.
You will multiply my greatness, and comfort me 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 with harp I will praise you, and your faithfulness, O my God; and make music to you on the lyre, O you Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice, when I shall sing to thee; and my soul which thou hast redeemed.
My lips shall ring out their joy, my mouth shall sing praises to you; all of me, 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.
Yes, all the day long shall my tongue utter your righteousness; for ashamed and confounded are they who were seeking my hurt.
