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.
For the chief musician. A psalm of David. In you, Yahweh, I take refuge; never let me be humiliated. Rescue me in your righteousness.
2 Please listen to me, and be quick to rescue me. Be my rock of protection, my strong fortress of safety.
Listen to me; rescue me quickly; be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to save me.
3 You are my rock and my fortress. For the sake of your reputation, please lead me and guide me.
For you are my rock and my fortress; therefore for your name's sake, lead 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.
Pluck me out of the net that they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge.
5 I put myself in your hands. Save me, Lord, for you are a trustworthy God.
Into your hands I entrust my spirit; you will redeem me, Yahweh, God of trustworthiness.
6 I hate those who devote themselves to pointless idols; I trust in the Lord.
I hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in Yahweh.
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 your covenant faithfulness, for you saw my affliction; you knew the distress of my soul.
8 You haven't handed me over to my enemies; you have set me free.
You have not given me into the hand of my enemy. You have set my feet in a wide open place.
9 Be kind to me Lord, for I am upset. I can hardly see from so much crying. I am completely wasting away.
Have mercy upon me, Yahweh, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weary with grief with my soul and my body.
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 weary with sorrow and my years with groaning. My strength fails because of my sin, and my bones are wasting away.
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.
Because of all my enemies, people disdain me; my neighbors are appalled at my situation, and those who know me are horrified. Those who see me in the street run from me.
12 I have been forgotten as if I were dead; I'm ignored like a broken pot.
I am forgotten as a dead man whom no one thinks about. I am like a broken pot.
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 whispering of many, terrifying news from every side as they plot 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 trust in you, Yahweh; I say, “You are my God.”
15 My whole life is in your hands! Save me from those who hate me and persecute me!
My times are in your hand. Rescue me from the hands of my enemies and from those who pursue me.
16 May you look kindly on me, your servant. Save me because of your trustworthy love.
Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your covenant faithfulness.
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)
Do not let me be humiliated, Yahweh; for I call out to you! May the wicked be humiliated! May they 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!
May lying lips be silenced that speak against the righteous defiantly with arrogance 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.
How great is your goodness that you have stored up for those who revere you, that you perform for those who take refuge in you before all the children of mankind!
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.
In the shelter of your presence, you hide them from the plots of men. You hide them in a shelter from the violence of tongues.
21 Bless the Lord, for he has shown me his wonderful trustworthy love when my city was being attacked
Blessed be Yahweh, for he showed me his marvelous covenant faithfulness when I was in a besieged 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.
Though I said in my haste, “I am cut off from your eyes,” yet you heard my plea for help when I cried to you.
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.
Oh, love Yahweh, all you faithful followers. Yahweh protects the faithful, but he pays back the arrogant in full.
24 Be strong and be confident, all you who put your hope in the Lord.
Be strong and confident, all you who trust in Yahweh for help.
