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 end, a Psalm of David, [an utterance] of extreme fear. O Lord, I have hoped in you; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in your righteousness and rescue me.

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 your ear to me; make haste to rescue me: be you to me for a protecting God, and for a house of refuge 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 you are my strength and my refuge; and you shall guide me for your name's sake, and maintain 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].

You shall bring me out of the snare which they have hidden for me; for you, O Lord, are my defender.

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

Into your hands I will commit my spirit: you have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

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

You has hated them that idly persist in vanities: but I have hoped 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 exult and be glad in your mercy: for you have looked upon mine affliction; you have saved my soul from distresses.

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

And you have not shut me up into the hands of the enemy: you have set my feet in a wide 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.

Pity me, O Lord, for I am afflicted: my eye is troubled with indignation, my soul and by belly.

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 grief, and my years with groanings: my strength has been weakened through poverty, and my bones are troubled.

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 became a reproach among all mine enemies, but exceedingly so to my neighbors, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that saw me without 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 have been forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am become as 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 heard the slander of many that lived round about: when they were gathered together against me, they took counsel to take my life.

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

But I hoped in you, O Lord: I said, You are my God.

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

My lots are in your hands: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies,

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

and from them that persecute me. Make your face to shine upon your servant: save me in your mercy.

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 you: let the ungodly be ashamed, and brought down to Hades. (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 deceitful lips become dumb, which speak iniquity against the righteous with pride and scorn.

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 abundant is the multitude of your goodness, O Lord, which you have laid up for them that fear you! you have wrought [it] out for them that hope on you, in the presence 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.

You will hide them in the secret of your presence from the vexation of man: you will screen them in a tabernacle from the contradiction 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 has magnified his mercy in a fortified 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.

But I said in my extreme fear, I am cast out from the sight of your eyes: therefore you did listen, O Lord, to the voice of my supplication when I cried to you.

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 his saints: for the Lord seeks for truth, and renders [a reward] to them that deal very proudly.

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

Be of good courage, and let your heart be strengthened, all you that hope in the Lord.