Psalms 31
1 “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.
Yahweh, I have come to you to be protected; do not allow me to be [defeated, with the result that I am] disgraced. Since you always do what is fair/right, rescue me!
2 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.
Listen to me, and save me right now! Be [like] a huge rock [under which I can hide] [MET] and [like] a strong fort in which I will be safe.
3 For my rock and my stronghold art thou; and for the sake of thy name lead me, and guide me.
Yes, you are [like] my huge rock and my fort; guide me and lead me [DOU] in order that I can honor you [MTY].
4 Draw me out of the net which they have laid secretly for me; for thou art my protection.
You are the one who protects me, so keep me from falling into the hidden traps [that my enemies have set for me].
5 Into thy hand do I commit my spirit: thou redeemest me, O Lord, the God of truth.
Yahweh, you are a God who can be trusted, so I put myself into your care because you rescued me.
6 I hate those that depend on lying vanities; but I trust indeed in the Lord.
Yahweh, I hate those who worship useless idols, but I trust in you.
7 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;
I will be very glad [DOU] because you faithfully love me. You see me when I have been afflicted, and you have known when I have had troubles.
8 And thou hast not surrendered me into the hand of the enemy: thou hast caused my feet to stand on an ample space.
You have not allowed my enemies to capture me; instead, you have rescued me from danger.
9 Be gracious unto me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is consumed through vexation—my soul [too] and my body.
[But now], Yahweh, be kind to me [again] because I am distressed. Because I cry [so much], I cannot see well, and I am completely exhausted.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing, my strength faileth because of my iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
I have become very weak because I am [so] miserable, and it is causing my life to become shorter. I have become weak because of all my troubles; even my bones are becoming weaker.
11 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.
All of my enemies make fun of me, and [even] my neighbors despise me. [Even] my friends are afraid of me [because they think I am being punished by God], and when they see me on the streets, they run away.
12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of the heart: I am become like a perishable vessel.
People have forgotten me like they forget people who are dead. [They think I am as useless] as a broken pot.
13 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.
I have heard people slandering me, and they have caused me to become terrified. My enemies are making plans in order to kill me.
14 But I trusted well in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God.
But Yahweh, I trust in you. You are my God.
15 In thy hand are my destinies: deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from my persecutors.
My whole life [MTY] is in your hands; save me from my enemies, from those who pursue me.
16 Let thy face shine upon thy servant: save me through thy kindness.
Be kind to me and rescue me because you always faithfully love me.
17 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)
Yahweh, I call out to you, so do not allow me to be disgraced. I desire that wicked people will be disgraced; I want them to [soon die and] go down to the place where the dead people are. (Sheol h7585)
18 Let the lying lips be made dumb, which speak hard things against the righteous, with pride and contempt.
I desire that you will cause people [MTY] who tell lies to be unable to speak. Do that to people who are proud and those who arrogantly accuse righteous people.
19 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!
You have stored up many blessings for those who revere you. You do those good things for those who go to you to be protected; everyone sees you doing that.
20 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.
You hide people in your presence where it is safe, and protect them from people who plot [to kill them]. You hide them in safe places from their enemies [MTY] who accuse/insult them.
21 Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shown me his kindness wonderfully in a beleaguered city.
Praise Yahweh! When my enemies surrounded the city [in which I was living], he showed me in a wonderful way that he faithfully loves me.
22 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.
I was afraid, and I cried out, “I have been separated from Yahweh!” but you heard me and answered my cry for help.
23 Oh love the Lord, all ye his pious ones: the Lord preserveth the faithful, and recompenses the presumption of him that acteth proudly.
You people who belong to Yahweh, love him! Those who are loyal to him, he protects, but those who are very proud, he punishes them severely like they deserve to be punished.
24 Be strong, and let your heart be of good courage, all ye that hope in the Lord.
You who confidently expect Yahweh [to do great things for you], be strong, be courageous!
