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!
A psalm of David. For the music director. Lord, you are the one who keeps me safe; please don't let me ever be humiliated. Save me, because you always do what is right.
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.
Please listen to me, and be quick to rescue me. Be my rock of protection, my strong fortress of safety.
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].
You are my rock and my fortress. For the sake of your reputation, please 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].
Help me escape from the hidden net that they set to trap me, for you are the one who protects me.
5 Yahweh, you are a God who can be trusted, so I put myself into your care because you rescued me.
I put myself in your hands. Save me, Lord, for you are a trustworthy God.
6 Yahweh, I hate those who worship useless idols, but I trust in you.
I hate those who devote themselves to pointless idols; I trust in the Lord.
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 celebrate, happy in your love that never fails, for you have seen the problems I face and have paid attention to my troubles.
8 You have not allowed my enemies to capture me; instead, you have rescued me from danger.
You haven't handed me over to my enemies; you have set me free.
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.
Be kind to me Lord, for I am upset. I can hardly see from so much crying. I am completely wasting away.
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.
Grief is killing me; my life is cut short by sadness; I am falling apart because of my troubles; I am worn to the bone.
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 am ridiculed by my enemies, particularly by my neighbors. My friends dread meeting me; people who see me in the street run the other way.
12 People have forgotten me like they forget people who are dead. [They think I am as useless] as a broken pot.
I have been forgotten as if I were dead; I'm ignored like a broken pot.
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.
I hear many people whispering about me; terror surrounds me. They plot together against me, planning to kill me.
14 But Yahweh, I trust in you. You are my God.
But I put my trust in you, Lord, saying, “You are my God!”
15 My whole life [MTY] is in your hands; save me from my enemies, from those who pursue me.
My whole life is in your hands! Save me from those who hate me and persecute me!
16 Be kind to me and rescue me because you always faithfully love me.
May you look kindly on me, your servant. Save me because of your trustworthy love.
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)
Lord, don't let me be disgraced, for I'm calling out to you. Instead let the wicked be disgraced, let them be silent in the grave. (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.
Shut the mouths of those who tell lies against good people—those who speak contemptuously in their pride and arrogance!
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.
How wonderful is the goodness you have reserved for those who honor you! In front of everyone you give this goodness to those who come to you for help.
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.
You shelter and protect them with your presence, far from their enemies who scheme against them. You keep them safe from attacks and accusations.
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.
Bless the Lord, for he has shown me his wonderful trustworthy love when my city was being attacked
22 I was afraid, and I cried out, “I have been separated from Yahweh!” but you heard me and answered my cry for help.
Terrified I cried out, “I am being destroyed right in front of you!” But you heard my cry when I called out for you to help me.
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.
Love the Lord, all you who trust in him! The Lord takes care of those who trust him, but he pays back in full those who are arrogant.
24 You who confidently expect Yahweh [to do great things for you], be strong, be courageous!
Be strong and be confident, all you who put your hope in the Lord.
