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.

For the leader. A psalm of David. In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. Rescue me in your faithfulness;

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.

incline to me your ear. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a rock of defence, a fortified house, 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 fortress are you; lead me and guide me so your name will be honoured.

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 they have hid for me, for you yourself are my refuge.

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

Into your hand I commend my spirit: you ransom me, Lord, faithful God.

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

I hate those devoted to worthless idols; I trust 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 rejoice and be glad in your love, because you have looked on my misery, and cared for me in my distress.

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

You have not given me into the enemy’s hand, you have set my feet in a spacious place.

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 to me, Lord, for I am distressed; my eye is wasted away with sorrow.

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 consumed with grief, and my years with sighing. My strength is broken with misery, my bones waste away.

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.

The scorn of all my foes, the butt of my neighbours am I, a terror to my acquaintance. At the sight of me in the street people turn quickly away.

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

I am clean forgotten like the dead, am become like a ruined 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.

I hear the whispers of many – terror on every side – scheming together against me, plotting to take my life.

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

But my trust is in you, Lord. ‘You are my God,’ I say;

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

my times are in your hand, save me from the hand of the foes who pursue me.

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

Make your face to shine on your servant, save me in your love.

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)

Put me not, O Lord, to shame, for I have called upon you. Let the wicked be put to shame silent in Sheol. (Sheol h7585)

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

Strike the false lips dumb, that speak proudly against the righteous with haughtiness 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!

How great is the goodness you have treasured for those who fear you, and wrought for those who take refuge in you, in plain sight of all!

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.

In your sheltering wings you hide them from plottings of people, you keep them safe in a bower from the chiding of tongues.

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

Blest be the Lord for the wonderful love he has shown me in time of distress.

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.

For I had said in panic, ‘I am driven clean out of your sight.’ But you heard my plea, when I cried to you for help.

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

Love the Lord, all you faithful; the Lord protects the loyal, but repays the haughty in full.

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

Let your hearts be courageous and strong, all you who wait on the Lord.