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!

For the Leader. A Psalm of David. In thee, O LORD, have I taken refuge; let me never be ashamed; 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.

Incline Thine ear unto me, deliver me speedily; be Thou to me a rock of refuge, even a fortress of defence, 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 art 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].

Bring me forth out of the net that they have hidden for me; for Thou art 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 commit my spirit; Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, Thou God of truth.

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

I hate them that regard lying vanities; but 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 be glad and rejoice in Thy lovingkindness; for Thou hast seen mine affliction, Thou hast taken cognizance of the troubles of my soul,

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

And Thou hast not given me over into the hand of the enemy; Thou hast set my feet in a broad 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.

Be gracious unto me, O LORD, for I am in distress; mine eye wasteth away with vexation, 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 in sorrow, and my years in sighing; my strength faileth because of mine 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.

Because of all mine adversaries I am become a reproach, yea, unto my neighbours exceedingly, and a dread to mine acquaintance; they that see me without flee 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 useless 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 whispering of many, terror 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 as for me, I have trusted in Thee, O LORD; I have said: 'Thou art 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 mine enemies, and from them that 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 lovingkindness.

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)

O LORD, let me not be ashamed, for I have called upon Thee; let the wicked be ashamed, let them be put to silence in the nether-world. (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 arrogantly against the righteous, 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.

Oh how abundant is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee; which Thou hast wrought for them that take their refuge in Thee, in the sight of 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.

Thou hidest them in the covert of Thy presence from the plottings of man; Thou concealest them 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 the LORD; for He hath shown me His wondrous lovingkindness in an entrenched 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 heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto 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 the LORD, all ye His godly ones; the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully repayeth him that acteth haughtily.

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 that wait for the LORD.