Psalms 71

1 In Thee, O LORD, have I taken refuge; let me never be ashamed.

Lord, you are the one who keeps me safe; please don't disappoint me.

2 Deliver me in Thy righteousness, and rescue me; incline Thine ear unto me, and save me.

Save me, rescue me, because you always do what is right.

3 Be Thou to me a sheltering rock, whereunto I may continually resort, which Thou hast appointed to save me; for Thou art my rock and my fortress.

Please listen to me, and save me. Be my rock of protection where I can always go and hide. You gave the command to save me; for you are my rock and fortress.

4 O my God, rescue me out of the hand of the wicked, out of the grasp of the unrighteous and ruthless man.

My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of those who are evil and brutal.

5 For Thou art my hope; O Lord GOD, my trust from my youth.

For you, Lord God, are my hope. You are the one I have trusted since I was young.

6 Upon Thee have I stayed myself from birth; Thou art He that took me out of my mother's womb; my praise is continually of Thee.

I have depended on you since birth; you have taken care of me from my mother's womb. That's why I'm always praising you!

7 I am as a wonder unto many; but Thou art my strong refuge.

My life has been like a miracle to many people, for you have been my powerful protector.

8 My mouth shall be filled with Thy praise, and with Thy glory all the day.

All day long I am full of praise for you, telling how wonderful you are!

9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; when my strength faileth, forsake me not.

Don't reject me now I'm getting old. When my strength is gone, please don't abandon me.

10 For mine enemies speak concerning me, and they that watch for my soul take counsel together,

For my enemies are talking about me; those who want to kill me are plotting together.

11 Saying: 'God hath forsaken him; pursue and take him; for there is none to deliver.'

They say, “God has given up on him. Let's go after him because there's no one to save him.”

12 O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me.

God, please don't stay away from me. My God, hurry to help me!

13 Let them be ashamed and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and confusion that seek my hurt.

Defeat my accusers, get rid of them! May those who want to cause me trouble be covered with shame and disgrace!

14 But as for me, I will hope continually, and will praise Thee yet more and more.

As for me, I will go on hoping in you, and I will praise you more and more.

15 My mouth shall tell of Thy righteousness, and of Thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

I will talk about your goodness and your salvation every day, even though it's more than I can understand.

16 I will come with Thy mighty acts, O Lord GOD; I will make mention of Thy righteousness, even of Thine only.

I will come and explain what the Lord has done. I will remind people that you alone do what is right.

17 O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth; and until now do I declare Thy wondrous works.

God, you have taught me since I was young, and I still tell others about all the wonderful things you do.

18 And even unto old age and hoary hairs, O God, forsake me not; until I have declared Thy strength unto the next generation, Thy might to every one that is to come.

Even though I'm old and gray, please don't abandon me, God. Let me tell the new generation about your power. Let me explain to all who are to come the great things you do.

19 Thy righteousness also, O God, which reacheth unto high heaven; Thou who hast done great things, O God, who is like unto Thee?

God, your trustworthy and true nature is higher than the highest heaven! You have done incredible things! God, who is like you?

20 Thou, who hast made me to see many and sore troubles, wilt quicken me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

You had me face many troubles and plenty of misery, but you will bring me back to life; you will rise me up from the depths of the earth.

21 Thou wilt increase my greatness, and turn and comfort me.

You will give me even greater prestige, and you will make me happy again.

22 I also will give thanks unto Thee with the psaltery, even unto Thy truth, O my God; I will sing praises unto Thee with the harp, O Thou Holy One of Israel.

Then I will praise you on the harp for your trustworthiness, my God. I will sing praises to you on the lyre, Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing praises unto Thee; and my soul, which Thou hast redeemed.

I will shout for joy as I sing praises to you, for you have redeemed me.

24 My tongue also shall tell of Thy righteousness all the day; for they are ashamed, for they are abashed, that seek my hurt.

All day long I will tell about all the good things you have done, for those who tried to cause me misery have been disgraced and humiliated.