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 of the music. A psalm of David.” In thee, O LORD! do I trust; let me never be put to shame; According to thy goodness deliver 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.

Bow down thine ear to me; help me speedily! Be to me a strong rock, a high fortress, for my deliverance!

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 high fortress; Be thou also my guide, and lead me, for thy name's sake!

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

Draw me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For thou art my strength!

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 life; Thou wilt deliver me, O LORD, 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, And put my 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 mercy, That thou hast looked upon my trouble, And hast had regard to my distress;

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

That thou hast not given me up to the hands of my enemies, But hast 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.

Have mercy upon me, O LORD! for I am in trouble! My face is consumed with grief; Yea, my spirit 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 wasted with sorrow, And my years with sighing; My strength faileth by reason of my affliction, And my bones are consumed on account of all my enemies.

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 the scorn of my neighbors, And the terror of my acquaintance; They who see me abroad 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 like 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.

I hear the slander of many; fear is on every side; For they take counsel together against me; They devise to take away my life.

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

But I trust in thee, O Jehovah! I say, “Thou art my God!”

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

My destiny is in thy hand; Deliver me from the power of my enemies and persecutors!

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

Let thy face shine upon thy servant, And save me through thy 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)

Let me not be put to shame, O LORD! for I have called upon thee; Let the wicked be put to shame; Let them be silenced 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.

Let lying lips be put to silence, Which speak proud things against the righteous, With haughtiness 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 treasurest up for them that fear thee; Which thou showest to them that trust 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.

Thou hidest them in the secret place of thy presence from the machinations of men; Thou shelterest them in thy pavilion from the violence 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.

Praised be the LORD; for he hath shown me his wonderful kindness, As 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.

I said in my distress, “I am cut off from before thine eyes;” But thou didst hear the voice of my supplication, 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 servants; For the LORD preserveth the faithful, And requiteth the proud in full measure!

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

Be of good courage; let your hearts be strong, All ye who trust in the LORD!