Psalms 31

1 TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF DAVID. In You, O YHWH, I have trusted, Do not let me be ashamed for all time, In Your righteousness deliver me.

A psalm of David. For the music director. Lord, you are the one who keeps me safe; please don't let me ever be humiliated. Save me, because you always do what is right.

2 Incline Your ear to me quickly, deliver me, Be to me for a strong rock, For a house of bulwarks to save me.

Please listen to me, and be quick to rescue me. Be my rock of protection, my strong fortress of safety.

3 For You [are] my rock and my bulwark, For Your Name’s sake lead me and tend me.

You are my rock and my fortress. For the sake of your reputation, please lead me and guide me.

4 Bring me out from the net that they hid for me, For You [are] my strength.

Help me escape from the hidden net that they set to trap me, for you are the one who protects me.

5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit, You have redeemed me, YHWH God of truth.

I put myself in your hands. Save me, Lord, for you are a trustworthy God.

6 I have hated the observers of lying vanities, And I have been confident toward YHWH.

I hate those who devote themselves to pointless idols; I trust in the Lord.

7 I rejoice, and am glad in Your kindness, In that You have seen my affliction, You have known my soul in adversities.

I will celebrate, happy in your love that never fails, for you have seen the problems I face and have paid attention to my troubles.

8 And You have not shut me up, Into the hand of an enemy, You have caused my feet to stand in a broad place.

You haven't handed me over to my enemies; you have set me free.

9 Favor me, O YHWH, for distress [is] to me, My eye, my soul, and my body Have become old by provocation.

Be kind to me Lord, for I am upset. I can hardly see from so much crying. I am completely wasting away.

10 For my life has been consumed in sorrow And my years in sighing. My strength has been feeble because of my iniquity, And my bones have become old.

Grief is killing me; my life is cut short by sadness; I am falling apart because of my troubles; I am worn to the bone.

11 I have been a reproach among all my adversaries, And to my neighbors exceedingly, And a fear to my acquaintances, Those seeing me without—fled from me.

I am ridiculed by my enemies, particularly by my neighbors. My friends dread meeting me; people who see me in the street run the other way.

12 I have been forgotten as dead, out of mind, I have been as a perishing vessel.

I have been forgotten as if I were dead; I'm ignored like a broken pot.

13 For I have heard an evil account of many, Fear [is] all around. In their being united against me, They have devised to take my life,

I hear many people whispering about me; terror surrounds me. They plot together against me, planning to kill me.

14 And I have trusted on You, O YHWH, I have said, “You [are] my God.”

But I put my trust in you, Lord, saying, “You are my God!”

15 In Your hand [are] my times, Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from my pursuers.

My whole life is in your hands! Save me from those who hate me and persecute me!

16 Cause Your face to shine on Your servant, Save me in Your kindness.

May you look kindly on me, your servant. Save me because of your trustworthy love.

17 O YHWH, do not let me be ashamed, For I have called You, let the wicked be ashamed, Let them become silent to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)

Lord, don't let me be disgraced, for I'm calling out to you. Instead let the wicked be disgraced, let them be silent in the grave. (Sheol h7585)

18 Let lips of falsehood become mute, That are speaking against the righteous, Ancient sayings, in pride and contempt.

Shut the mouths of those who tell lies against good people—those who speak contemptuously in their pride and arrogance!

19 How abundant is Your goodness, That You have laid up for those fearing You, You have worked for those trusting in You, Before sons of men.

How wonderful is the goodness you have reserved for those who honor you! In front of everyone you give this goodness to those who come to you for help.

20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence, From schemes of man, You conceal them in a dwelling place, From the strife of tongues.

You shelter and protect them with your presence, far from their enemies who scheme against them. You keep them safe from attacks and accusations.

21 Blessed [is] YHWH, For He has made His kindness marvelous To me in a city of bulwarks.

Bless the Lord, for he has shown me his wonderful trustworthy love when my city was being attacked

22 And I have said in my haste, “I have been cut off from before Your eyes,” But You have heard the voice of my supplications, In my crying to You.

Terrified I cried out, “I am being destroyed right in front of you!” But you heard my cry when I called out for you to help me.

23 Love YHWH, all you His saints, YHWH is keeping the faithful, And repaying a proud doer abundantly.

Love the Lord, all you who trust in him! The Lord takes care of those who trust him, but he pays back in full those who are arrogant.

24 Be strong, and He strengthens your heart, All you who are waiting for YHWH!

Be strong and be confident, all you who put your hope in the Lord.