Psalms 31

1 A psalm of David. For the music director. Lord, you are the one who keeps me safe; please don't let me ever be humiliated. Save me, because you always do what is right.

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. In thee, Jehovah, do I trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

2 Please listen to me, and be quick to rescue me. Be my rock of protection, my strong fortress of safety.

Incline thine ear to me, deliver me speedily; be a strong rock to me, a house of defence to save me.

3 You are my rock and my fortress. For the sake of your reputation, please lead me and guide me.

For thou art my rock and my fortress; and, for thy name's sake, thou wilt lead me and guide me.

4 Help me escape from the hidden net that they set to trap me, for you are the one who protects me.

Draw me out of the net that they have hidden for me; for thou art my strength.

5 I put myself in your hands. Save me, Lord, for you are a trustworthy God.

Into thy hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, Jehovah, [thou] God of truth.

6 I hate those who devote themselves to pointless idols; I trust in the Lord.

I have hated them that observe lying vanities; and as for me, I have confided in Jehovah.

7 I will celebrate, happy in your love that never fails, for you have seen the problems I face and have paid attention to my troubles.

I will be glad and rejoice in thy loving-kindness, for thou hast seen mine affliction; thou hast known the troubles of my soul,

8 You haven't handed me over to my enemies; you have set me free.

And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large place.

9 Be kind to me Lord, for I am upset. I can hardly see from so much crying. I am completely wasting away.

Be gracious unto me, Jehovah, for I am in trouble: mine eye wasteth away with vexation, my soul and my belly.

10 Grief is killing me; my life is cut short by sadness; I am falling apart because of my troubles; I am worn to the bone.

For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength faileth through mine iniquity, and my bones are wasted.

11 I am ridiculed by my enemies, particularly by my neighbors. My friends dread meeting me; people who see me in the street run the other way.

More than to all mine oppressors, I am become exceedingly a reproach, even to my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that see me without flee from me.

12 I have been forgotten as if I were dead; I'm ignored like a broken pot.

I am forgotten in [their] heart as a dead man; I am become like a broken vessel.

13 I hear many people whispering about me; terror surrounds me. They plot together against me, planning to kill me.

For I have heard the slander of many — terror on every side — when they take counsel together against me: they plot to take away my life.

14 But I put my trust in you, Lord, saying, “You are my God!”

But I confided in thee, Jehovah; I said, thou art my God.

15 My whole life is in your hands! Save me from those who hate me and persecute me!

My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from my persecutors.

16 May you look kindly on me, your servant. Save me because of your trustworthy love.

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; save me in thy loving-kindness.

17 Lord, don't let me be disgraced, for I'm calling out to you. Instead let the wicked be disgraced, let them be silent in the grave. (Sheol h7585)

Jehovah, let me not be ashamed; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, let them be silent in Sheol. (Sheol h7585)

18 Shut the mouths of those who tell lies against good people—those who speak contemptuously in their pride and arrogance!

Let the lying lips become dumb, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.

19 How wonderful is the goodness you have reserved for those who honor you! In front of everyone you give this goodness to those who come to you for help.

[Oh] how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, [which] thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee, before the sons of men!

20 You shelter and protect them with your presence, far from their enemies who scheme against them. You keep them safe from attacks and accusations.

Thou keepest them concealed in the secret of thy presence from the conspiracies of man; thou hidest them in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

21 Bless the Lord, for he has shown me his wonderful trustworthy love when my city was being attacked

Blessed be Jehovah; for he hath shewn me wondrously his loving-kindness in a strong city.

22 Terrified I cried out, “I am being destroyed right in front of you!” But you heard my cry when I called out for you to help me.

As for me, I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes; nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

23 Love the Lord, all you who trust in him! The Lord takes care of those who trust him, but he pays back in full those who are arrogant.

Love Jehovah, all ye his saints. Jehovah preserveth the faithful, and plentifully requiteth the proud doer.

24 Be strong and be confident, all you who put your hope in the Lord.

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all ye that hope in Jehovah.