Psalms 31

1 For the Leader. A Psalm of David. In thee, O LORD, have I taken refuge; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Thy righteousness.

“To the chief musician, a psalm of David.” In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; Oh that I may never be put to shame: through thy righteousness do thou release me.

2 Incline Thine ear unto me, deliver me speedily; be Thou to me a rock of refuge, even a fortress of defence, to save me.

Bend unto me thy ear; speedily deliver me: be thou unto me as a rock of protection, as a mountain strong-hold to save me.

3 For Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for Thy name's sake lead me and guide me.

For my rock and my stronghold art thou; and for the sake of thy name lead me, and guide me.

4 Bring me forth out of the net that they have hidden for me; for Thou art my stronghold.

Draw me out of the net which they have laid secretly for me; for thou art my protection.

5 Into Thy hand I commit my spirit; Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, Thou God of truth.

Into thy hand do I commit my spirit: thou redeemest me, O Lord, the God of truth.

6 I hate them that regard lying vanities; but I trust in the LORD.

I hate those that depend on lying vanities; but I trust indeed in the Lord.

7 I will be glad and rejoice in Thy lovingkindness; for Thou hast seen mine affliction, Thou hast taken cognizance of the troubles of my soul,

I will be glad and rejoice in thy kindness; because thou hast seen my misery; thou hast taken cognizance of the distresses of my soul;

8 And Thou hast not given me over into the hand of the enemy; Thou hast set my feet in a broad place.

And thou hast not surrendered me into the hand of the enemy: thou hast caused my feet to stand on an ample space.

9 Be gracious unto me, O LORD, for I am in distress; mine eye wasteth away with vexation, yea, my soul and my body.

Be gracious unto me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is consumed through vexation—my soul [too] and my body.

10 For my life is spent in sorrow, and my years in sighing; my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are wasted away.

For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing, my strength faileth because of my iniquity, and my bones are consumed.

11 Because of all mine adversaries I am become a reproach, yea, unto my neighbours exceedingly, and a dread to mine acquaintance; they that see me without flee from me.

Because of all my assailants am I become a reproach, and unto my neighbors greatly so, and a terror to my acquaintance, those that see me abroad flee away from me.

12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind; I am like a useless vessel.

I am forgotten as a dead man out of the heart: I am become like a perishable vessel.

13 For I have heard the whispering of many, terror on every side; while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

For I have heard the slandering of many; terror was on every side, while they took counsel together against me: to take away my life did they purpose.

14 But as for me, I have trusted in Thee, O LORD; I have said: 'Thou art my God.'

But I trusted well in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God.

15 My times are in Thy hand; deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

In thy hand are my destinies: deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from my persecutors.

16 Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant; save me in Thy lovingkindness.

Let thy face shine upon thy servant: save me through thy kindness.

17 O LORD, let me not be ashamed, for I have called upon Thee; let the wicked be ashamed, let them be put to silence in the nether-world. (Sheol h7585)

O Lord, let me not be put to shame; for I have called on thee: let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent, [passing] to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)

18 Let the lying lips be dumb, which speak arrogantly against the righteous, with pride and contempt.

Let the lying lips be made dumb, which speak hard things against the righteous, with pride and contempt.

19 Oh how abundant is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee; which Thou hast wrought for them that take their refuge in Thee, in the sight of the sons of men!

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast treasured up for those that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for those that trust in thee before the sons of men!

20 Thou hidest them in the covert of Thy presence from the plottings of man; Thou concealest them in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

Thou wilt conceal them in the secret of thy presence from the conspiracy of men: thou wilt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the LORD; for He hath shown me His wondrous lovingkindness in an entrenched city.

Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shown me his kindness wonderfully in a beleaguered city.

22 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.

And yet had I said in my despondency, I am cut off from before thy eyes: nevertheless thou didst hear the voice of my supplications when I cried loudly unto thee.

23 O love the LORD, all ye His godly ones; the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully repayeth him that acteth haughtily.

Oh love the Lord, all ye his pious ones: the Lord preserveth the faithful, and recompenses the presumption of him that acteth proudly.

24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all ye that wait for the LORD.

Be strong, and let your heart be of good courage, all ye that hope in the Lord.