Psalms 71
1 In thee, O Yahweh, have I sought refuge, May I not be ashamed unto times age-abiding:
In you, O Lord, I take refuge, let me never be put to shame.
2 In thy righteousness, wilt thou rescue me, and deliver me, Incline unto me thine ear, and save me:
In your faithfulness save me and rescue me, bend your ear to me and save me.
3 Be thou unto me, a Rock to dwell in, a Place of Security, To save me, For, my mountain crag and my stronghold, thou art.
Be to me a rock of defence, a fortified house, to save me; for my rock and my fortress are you.
4 Oh my God, deliver me, From the hand of the lawless one, From the clutch of the perverse and ruthless one;
Save me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.
5 For, thou, art my hope, My Lord, Yahweh, My confidence from my youthful days:
For you, Lord, are my hope, in whom from my youth I have trusted.
6 Upon thee, have I stayed myself from birth, Thou art he that severed me, from the body of my mother, Of thee, shall be my praise—continually.
On you have I leaned from my birth; from my mother’s womb it was you who did draw me. In you is my hope evermore.
7 A very wonder, have I been unto many, Seeing that, thou, hast been my strong refuge,
I have been as a wonder to many, for you are my refuge and strength.
8 My mouth shall be filled with, thy praise, All the day, with thy splendour.
All the day long my mouth is filled with your praise and your glory.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age, When my vigour faileth, do not forsake me;
Cast me not off in the time of old age; when my strength is spent, forsake me not.
10 For mine enemies have spoken of me, And, they who watch for my life, have taken counsel together;
For my foes whisper against me, they who watch me take counsel together;
11 Saying, God, hath forsaken him, Pursue and take him, For there is none to rescue.
‘God has left him,’ they say: ‘pursue and seize him, for he is helpless.’
12 O God, be not far from me, O my God, to help me, make haste!
O God, be not far from me, haste, O my God, to my help.
13 Let them be ashamed—be consumed, Who are assailing my life, —Let them be covered with reproach and confusion, Who are seeking my hurt.
Put my foes to shame and dishonour, with insult and shame be they covered.
14 But, I, continually will hope, And will add to all thy praise;
But I will never stop hoping, and more and yet more will I praise you.
15 My mouth, shall relate thy righteousness, All the day, thy deliverance, For I know not the numbers.
All the day long shall my mouth tell your faithfulness and your salvation, though I know not how they may be counted.
16 I will enter into the mighty doings of My Lord—Yahweh, I will make mention of thy righteousness—thine alone.
I will tell of the might of the Lord, and your faithfulness praise, you alone.
17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youthful days, And, hitherto, have I been wont to tell of thy wonders;
You have taught me, O God, from my youth, and till now have I told of your wonders.
18 Even now, therefore, that I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, —Until I tell of thine arm unto a [new] generation, Unto every one that is to come, thy might;
Even in old age and grey hair, O God, do not forsake me. Still would I tell of your might unto all generations to come.
19 And, as for thy righteousness, O God, up on high, Wherein thou hast wrought great things, O God! who is like unto thee?
Your power and your justice, O God, extend as far as the heavens: for great are the things you have done. Who is like you, O God?
20 Thou who hast let us see many distresses and misfortunes, Wilt again bring us to life, And, out of the resounding depths of the earth, wilt again raise us up;
You have caused us to see troubles many, but you will revive us again. From the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.
21 Thou wilt increase my greatness, And, on every side, wilt comfort me.
You will multiply my greatness, and comfort me again.
22 I also, will praise thee by the aid of a harp, Thy faithfulness, O my God, —I will make music unto thee with a lyre, Thou holy one of Israel;
So with harp I will praise you, and your faithfulness, O my God; and make music to you on the lyre, O you Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips shall make a joyful noise, When I make music unto thee, And my soul which thou hast ransomed;
My lips shall ring out their joy, my mouth shall sing praises to you; all of me, which you have redeemed.
24 Even my tongue, all the day, shall softly utter thy righteousness, For they have turned pale—for they have blushed, Who were seeking my hurt.
Yes, all the day long shall my tongue utter your righteousness; for ashamed and confounded are they who were seeking my hurt.
