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 Overseer. — A Psalm of David. In Thee, O Jehovah, I have trusted, Let me not be ashamed to the age, In Thy righteousness deliver me.

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

Incline unto me Thine ear hastily, deliver me, Be to me for a strong rock, For a house of bulwarks to save me.

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

For my rock and my bulwark [art] Thou, For Thy name's sake lead me and tend me.

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

Bring me out from the net that they hid 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 God of truth.

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

I have hated the observers of lying vanities, And I toward Jehovah have been confident.

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 rejoice, and am glad in Thy kindness, In that Thou hast seen mine affliction, Thou hast known in adversities my soul.

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

And Thou hast not shut me up, Into the hand of an enemy, Thou hast caused my feet to stand in a broad place.

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

Favour me, O Jehovah, for distress [is] to me, Mine eye, my soul, and my body Have become old by provocation.

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 hath been consumed in sorrow And my years in sighing. Feeble because of mine iniquity hath been my strength, And my bones have become old.

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.

Among all mine adversaries I have been a reproach, And to my neighbours exceedingly, And a fear to mine acquaintances, Those seeing me without — fled from me.

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

I have been forgotten as dead out of mind, I have been as a perishing 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 an evil account of many, Fear [is] round about. In their being united against me, To take my life they have devised,

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

And I on Thee — I have trusted, O Jehovah, I have said, 'Thou [art] my God.'

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

In Thy hand [are] my times, Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from my pursuers.

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

Cause Thy face to shine on Thy servant, Save me in Thy 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)

O Jehovah, let me not be ashamed, For I have called Thee, let the wicked be ashamed, Let them become silent to 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 lips of falsehood become dumb, That are speaking against the righteous, Ancient sayings, 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.

How abundant is Thy goodness, That Thou hast laid up for those fearing Thee,

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 hast wrought for those trusting in Thee, Before sons of men. Thou hidest them in the secret place of Thy presence, From artifices of man, Thou concealest them in a tabernacle, 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 [is] Jehovah, For He hath made marvellous His kindness To me in a city of bulwarks.

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.

And I — I have said in my haste, 'I have been cut off from before Thine eyes,' But Thou hast heard the voice of my supplications, In my crying 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 is keeping the faithful, And recompensing abundantly a proud doer.

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

Be strong, and He strengtheneth your heart, All ye who are waiting for Jehovah!