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 Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. In you, LORD, I take refuge. Let me never be disappointed. Deliver me in your 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 your ear to me. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a strong rock, a house 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 you are my rock and my fortress, therefore for your 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 you 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 your hand I commend my spirit. You redeem me, LORD, 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 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 your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities.

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

You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. You 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 on me, LORD, for I am in distress. My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief.

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, my years with sighing. My strength fails because of my iniquity. 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 my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbours, a horror to my acquaintances. Those who saw me on the street 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 from their hearts like a dead man. I am like broken pottery.

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, terror on every side, while they conspire together against me, they plot to take away my life.

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

But I trust in you, 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 times are in your 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 your face to shine on your servant. Save me in your 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 disappointed, LORD, for I have called on you. Let the wicked be disappointed. 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 mute, which speak against the righteous 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.

Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for those who fear you, which you have worked for those who take refuge in you, 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 shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man. You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away 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.

Praise be to the LORD, for he has shown me his marvellous 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 your eyes.” Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions 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.

Oh love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, and fully recompenses him who behaves arrogantly.

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 you who hope in the LORD.