Psalms 71

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

Yahweh, I have come to you to (get refuge/be protected); never allow me to become ashamed [because of being defeated].

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

Because you always do what is right, help me and rescue me; listen 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 [like an overhanging] rock [MET] under which I [can be] safe/protected; [be like] a strong fortress in which I am safe [DOU]. You [continually] command (OR, [Continually] command) [your angels] to rescue me.

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

God, rescue me from wicked [people], from the power of unjust and evil men.

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

Yahweh, my Lord, you are the one whom I confidently expect [to help me]; I have trusted in you 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 all my life; you have taken care of me [IDM] since the day that I was born, [so] I will always praise you.

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

The manner in which I have conducted my life has been an example to many [people], because [they realize that] you have been my strong defender.

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

I praise you all day long, and I proclaim that you are glorious/wonderful.

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

Now, when I have become an old man, do not reject/abandon me; do not abandon me now, when I am not strong any more.

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

My enemies say [that they want to kill] me; they plan together [how they can do that].

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

They say [about me], “God has abandoned him; so now we can pursue him and seize him, because there is no one who will rescue him.”

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

God, do not stay far away from me; 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,

Cause those who (accuse me/say that I have done things that are wrong) to be defeated and destroyed; cause those who want to harm me to be shamed and disgraced.

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

But [as for me], I will continually and confidently expect [you to do great things for me], 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 tell people that you do what is right; all day long I will tell people how you have saved me, although what you have done is more than I can fully understand.

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

Yahweh, my Lord, I will praise you for your mighty deeds; I will proclaim that only you always act justly.

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

God, you have taught me [many/those things] ever since I was young, and I still tell people about your wonderful deeds.

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.

And now, God, when I am old and my hair is gray, do not abandon me. [Stay with me] while I continue to proclaim to my children and grandchildren [HYP] that you are [very] powerful!

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

God, you do many righteous deeds; [it is as though] they extend up to the sky. You have done great things; there is no one like you [RHQ].

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 have caused me to have many troubles and to suffer much, [but] you will cause me to become strong again; when I am almost dead [HYP], you will keep me alive.

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

You will cause me to be greatly honored and you will encourage/comfort me 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,

I will also praise you [while I play] my harp; I will praise you, my God, for faithfully [doing what you have promised to do]. I will play hymns to praise you, the holy God whom [we] Israelis [worship].

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

I [SYN] will shout joyfully while I play [the harp] for you; with my entire inner being I will sing because you have rescued 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 people that you act righteously, because those who wanted to harm me will have been defeated and disgraced.