Psalms 71

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

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

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

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

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.

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, cause me to escape From the hand of the wicked, From the hand of the perverse and violent.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God, your trustworthy and true nature is higher than the highest heaven! You have done incredible things! 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.

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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.