Psalms 31
1 To the Chief Musician. A Melody of David. In thee, O Yahweh, have I sought refuge, Let me not be ashamed to times age-abiding, In thy righteousness, deliver 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 Incline unto me, thine ear, Speedily rescue me, —Become to me a Rock of refuge, a Place of security, For saving 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 Because, my mountain crag and my stronghold, thou art, Therefore, for the sake of thine own Name, wilt thou 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 Wilt thou bring me forth, out of the net which they have hidden for me? For, thou, art my refuge.
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 hast ransomed me, O Yahweh, GOD most faithful.
Yahweh, you are a God who can be trusted, so I put myself into your care because you rescued me.
6 I hate such as give heed to false vanities, I, then, in Yahweh, have set my hope.
Yahweh, I hate those who worship useless idols, but I trust in you.
7 I will indeed exult and rejoice, in thy lovingkindness, —In that thou hast looked upon my humiliation, thou hast taken note that in distresses was my life;
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 hast not shut me up in the hand of the foe, Thou hast given standing, in a roomy place, unto my feet.
You have not allowed my enemies to capture me; instead, you have rescued me from danger.
9 Show me favour, O Yahweh, for in distress am I, —Wasted with vexation, is mine eye—my soul 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, consumed with sorrow, is my life, and my years with sighing, —My strength hath staggered with my humiliation, and, my bones, are without marrow.
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 By reason of all mine adversaries, have I become a reproach. Even to my neighbours, altogether, and a dread to mine acquaintance, —They who have seen me abroad, have fled 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 have been forgotten, like one dead—out of mind, I have been as a missing 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 whispering of many—A terror round about! When they have sat in conclave together against me, to take away my life, have they intrigued.
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 I, therefore. in thee, have put my trust, O Yahweh, I have said, My God, thou art!
But Yahweh, I trust in you. You are my God.
15 In thy hand, are my times, Rescue me from the hand of my foes and from my pursuers!
My whole life [MTY] is in your hands; save me from my enemies, from those who pursue me.
16 Cause thy face to shine upon thy servant, Save me in thy lovingkindness.
Be kind to me and rescue me because you always faithfully love me.
17 O Yahweh! let me not be ashamed, For I have called upon thee, Let the lawless be ashamed, Go down in silence to hades! (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 false lips be made dumb, —which are speaking—against a righteous one—arrogantly, 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 How great is thy goodness, which thou hast hidden away for them who revere thee, —Thou hast wrought for them who seek refuge in thee, in sight of 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 secrecy of thine own presence, from the conspiracies of men, —Thou wilt hide them 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 Yahweh, for he hath made wonderful his lovingkindness for me, in a fortified 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 But, I, had said in mine alarm, I am cut off from before thine eyes, —But, indeed, thou didst hear the voice of my supplication, when I cried for help 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 Love Yahweh, all ye his men of lovingkindness, —Faithfulness, doth Yahweh observe, but repayeth abundantly him that worketh 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 bold, all ye who are waiting for Yahweh.
You who confidently expect Yahweh [to do great things for you], be strong, be courageous!
