Psalms 71

1 In You, O YHWH, I have trusted, Do not let me be disappointed for all time.

A Psalm of David. Of the sons of Jonadab and the former captives. In you, O Lord, I have hoped; do not let me be brought to ruin forever.

2 You deliver me in Your righteousness, And cause me to escape, Incline Your ear to me, and save me.

Free me by your justice, and rescue me. Incline your ear to me, and save me.

3 Be a rock to me—a habitation, To go in continually, You have given command to save me, For You [are] my rock and my bulwark.

Be a God of protection and a place of strength for me, so that you may accomplish my salvation. For you are my firmament and my refuge.

4 O my God, cause me to escape From the hand of the wicked, From the hand of the perverse and violent.

Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the sinner, and from the hand of the unjust and those who act against the law.

5 For You [are] my hope, O Lord YHWH, My trust from my youth.

For you, O Lord, are my patience: my hope from my youth, O Lord.

6 I have been supported from the womb by You, You cut me out from my mother’s bowels, My praise [is] continually in You.

In you, I have been confirmed from conception. From my mother’s womb, you are my protector. In you, I will sing forever.

7 I have been as a wonder to many, And You [are] my strong refuge.

I have become to many as if I were a portent, but you are a strong helper.

8 My mouth is filled [with] Your praise, All the day [with] Your beauty.

Let my mouth be filled with praise, so that I may sing your glory, your greatness all day long.

9 Do not cast me off at the time of old age, Do not forsake me according to the consumption of my power.

Do not cast me off in the time of old age. Do not abandon me when my strength will fail.

10 For my enemies have spoken against me, And those watching my soul have taken counsel together,

For my enemies have spoken against me. And those who watched for my soul have taken counsel as one,

11 Saying, “God has forsaken him, Pursue and catch him, for there is no deliverer.”

saying: “God has abandoned him. Pursue and overtake him. For there is no one to rescue him.”

12 O God, do not be far from me, O my God, make haste for my help.

O God, do not be far from me. O my God, provide for my assistance.

13 They are ashamed, they are consumed, Who are opposing my soul, They are covered [with] reproach and blushing, Who are seeking my evil,

May they be confounded, and may they fail, who drag down my soul. Let them be covered with confusion and shame, who seek evils for me.

14 And I continually wait with hope, And have added to all Your praise.

But I will always have hope. And I will add more to all your praise.

15 My mouth recounts Your righteousness, All the day Your salvation, For I have not known the numbers.

My mouth will announce your justice, your salvation all day long. For I have not known letters.

16 I come in [the] might of Lord YHWH, I mention Your righteousness—Yours alone.

I will enter into the powers of the Lord. I will be mindful of your justice alone, O Lord.

17 God, You have taught me from my youth, And until now I declare Your wonders.

You have taught me from my youth, O God. And so I will declare your wonders continuously,

18 And also to old age and grey hairs, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to a generation, Your might to everyone that comes.

even in old age and with grey hairs. Do not abandon me, O God, while I announce your arm to every future generation: your power

19 And Your righteousness, O God, [is] to the heights, Because You have done great things, O God, who [is] like You?

and your justice, O God, even to the highest great things that you have done. O God, who is like you?

20 Because You have showed me many and sad distresses, You turn back—You revive me, And from the depths of the earth, You turn back—You bring me up.

How great is the tribulation that you have revealed to me: very great and evil. And so, turning back, you have brought me to life, and you have led me back again from the abyss of the earth.

21 You increase my greatness, And You surround—You comfort me,

You have multiplied your magnificence. And so, turning back to me, you have consoled me.

22 I also thank You with a vessel of stringed instrument, Your truth, O my God, I sing to You with a harp, O Holy One of Israel,

Therefore, I will confess your truth to you, with the instruments of the Psalter. O God, I will sing psalms to you with stringed instruments, O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips cry aloud when I sing praise to You, And my soul that You have redeemed,

My lips will exult, when I sing to you, and also my soul, which you have redeemed.

24 My tongue also utters Your righteousness all the day, Because ashamed—because confounded, Have been those seeking my evil!

And even my tongue will meditate on your justice all day long, when those who seek evils for me have been confounded and set in awe.