< 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 chief musician. A psalm of David. In you, Yahweh, I take refuge; never let me be humiliated. Rescue me in your righteousness.
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.
Listen to me; rescue me quickly; be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to save me.
3 For Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for Thy name's sake lead me and guide me.
For you are my rock and my fortress; therefore for your name's sake, lead and guide me.
4 Bring me forth out of the net that they have hidden for me; for Thou art my stronghold.
Pluck me out of the net that they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge.
5 Into Thy hand I commit my spirit; Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, Thou God of truth.
Into your hands I entrust my spirit; you will redeem me, Yahweh, God of trustworthiness.
6 I hate them that regard lying vanities; but I trust in the LORD.
I hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in Yahweh.
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 your covenant faithfulness, for you saw my affliction; you knew the distress 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.
You have not given me into the hand of my enemy. You have set my feet in a wide open 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.
Have mercy upon me, Yahweh, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weary with grief with my soul 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 weary with sorrow and my years with groaning. My strength fails because of my sin, and my bones are wasting 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.
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 am forgotten as a dead man out of mind; I am like a useless vessel.
I am forgotten as a dead man whom no one thinks about. I am like a broken pot.
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 whispering of many, terrifying news from every side as they plot together against me. They plot to take away my life.
14 But as for me, I have trusted in Thee, O LORD; I have said: 'Thou art my God.'
But I trust in you, Yahweh; I say, “You are my God.”
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. Rescue me from the hands of my enemies and from those who pursue me.
16 Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant; save me in Thy lovingkindness.
Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your covenant faithfulness.
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 )
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 )
18 Let the lying lips be dumb, which speak arrogantly against the righteous, with pride and contempt.
May lying lips be silenced that speak against the righteous defiantly with arrogance 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 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 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 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 Blessed be the LORD; for He hath shown me His wondrous lovingkindness in an entrenched city.
Blessed be Yahweh, for he showed me his marvelous covenant faithfulness when I was in a besieged 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.
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 O love the LORD, all ye His godly ones; the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully repayeth him that acteth haughtily.
Oh, love Yahweh, all you faithful followers. Yahweh protects the faithful, but he pays back the arrogant in full.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all ye that wait for the LORD.
Be strong and confident, all you who trust in Yahweh for help.