Psalms 31

1 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!

In thee, O Jehovah, do I take refuge. Let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in thy righteousness.

2 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.

Bow down thine ear to me. Deliver me speedily. Be thou to me a strong rock, a house of defense to save me.

3 Yes, you are [like] my huge rock and my fort; guide me and lead me [DOU] in order that I can honor you [MTY].

For thou are my rock and my fortress. Therefore for thy name's sake lead me and guide me.

4 You are the one who protects me, so keep me from falling into the hidden traps [that my enemies have set for me].

Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me, for thou are my stronghold.

5 Yahweh, you are a God who can be trusted, so I put myself into your care because you rescued me.

Into thy hand I commend my spirit. Thou have redeemed me, O Jehovah, thou God of truth.

6 Yahweh, I hate those who worship useless idols, but I trust in you.

I hate those who regard lying vanities, but I trust in Jehovah.

7 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.

I will be glad and rejoice in thy loving kindness, for thou have seen my affliction. Thou have known my soul in adversities,

8 You have not allowed my enemies to capture me; instead, you have rescued me from danger.

and thou have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. Thou have set my feet in a large place.

9 [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.

Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah, for I am in distress. My eye wastes away with grief, yea, my soul and my body.

10 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.

For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing. My strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones are wasted away.

11 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.

I have become a reproach because of all my adversaries, yea, to my neighbors exceedingly, and a fear to my acquaintances. Those who saw me outside fled from me.

12 People have forgotten me like they forget people who are dead. [They think I am as useless] as a broken pot.

I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind. I am like a broken vessel.

13 I have heard people slandering me, and they have caused me to become terrified. My enemies are making plans in order to kill me.

For I have heard the slander of many. Fear was on every side, while they took counsel together against me. They devised to take away my life.

14 But Yahweh, I trust in you. You are my God.

But I trusted in thee, O Jehovah. I said, Thou are my God.

15 My whole life [MTY] is in your hands; save me from my enemies, from those who pursue me.

My times are in thy hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.

16 Be kind to me and rescue me because you always faithfully love me.

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant. Save me in thy loving kindness.

17 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)

Let me not be put to shame, O Jehovah, for I have called upon thee. Let the wicked be put to shame. Let them be silent in Sheol. (Sheol h7585)

18 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.

Let the lying lips be dumb, which speak against the righteous man insolently, with pride and contempt.

19 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.

O how great is thy goodness, which thou have laid up for those who fear thee, which thou have wrought for those who take refuge in thee before the sons of men!

20 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.

In the covert of thy presence thou will hide them from the plotting of man. Thou will keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

21 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.

Blessed be Jehovah, for he has shown me his marvelous loving kindness in a strong city.

22 I was afraid, and I cried out, “I have been separated from Yahweh!” but you heard me and answered my cry for help.

As for me, I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes. Nevertheless thou heard the voice of my supplications when I cried to thee.

23 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.

O love Jehovah, all ye his sanctified. Jehovah preserves the faithful, and plentifully repays him who deals proudly.

24 You who confidently expect Yahweh [to do great things for you], be strong, be courageous!

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all ye who hope in Jehovah.