Psalms 71

1 In you, LORD, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed.

A Psalm of David. Of the sons of Jonadab and the former captives. In you, O Lord, I have hoped; do not let me be brought to ruin forever.

2 Deliver me in your righteousness, and rescue me. Turn your ear to me, and save me.

Free me by your justice, and rescue me. Incline your ear to me, and save me.

3 Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

Be a God of protection and a place of strength for me, so that you may accomplish my salvation. For you are my firmament and my refuge.

4 Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the sinner, and from the hand of the unjust and those who act against the law.

5 For you are my hope, Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth.

For you, O Lord, are my patience: my hope from my youth, O Lord.

6 I have relied on you from the womb. You are he who took me out of my mother’s womb. I will always praise you.

In you, I have been confirmed from conception. From my mother’s womb, you are my protector. In you, I will sing forever.

7 I am a marvel to many, but you are my strong refuge.

I have become to many as if I were a portent, but you are a strong helper.

8 My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your honor all day long.

Let my mouth be filled with praise, so that I may sing your glory, your greatness all day long.

9 Don’t reject me in my old age. Don’t forsake me when my strength fails.

Do not cast me off in the time of old age. Do not abandon me when my strength will fail.

10 For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together,

For my enemies have spoken against me. And those who watched for my soul have taken counsel as one,

11 saying, “God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him.”

saying: “God has abandoned him. Pursue and overtake him. For there is no one to rescue him.”

12 God, don’t be far from me. My God, hurry to help me.

O God, do not be far from me. O my God, provide for my assistance.

13 Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me.

May they be confounded, and may they fail, who drag down my soul. Let them be covered with confusion and shame, who seek evils for me.

14 But I will always hope, and will add to all of your praise.

But I will always have hope. And I will add more to all your praise.

15 My mouth will tell about your righteousness, and of your salvation all day, though I don’t know its full measure.

My mouth will announce your justice, your salvation all day long. For I have not known letters.

16 I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord GOD. I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone.

I will enter into the powers of the Lord. I will be mindful of your justice alone, O Lord.

17 God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.

You have taught me from my youth, O God. And so I will declare your wonders continuously,

18 Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come.

even in old age and with grey hairs. Do not abandon me, O God, while I announce your arm to every future generation: your power

19 God, your righteousness also reaches to the heavens. You have done great things. God, who is like you?

and your justice, O God, even to the highest great things that you have done. O God, who is like you?

20 You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles, you will let me live. You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.

How great is the tribulation that you have revealed to me: very great and evil. And so, turning back, you have brought me to life, and you have led me back again from the abyss of the earth.

21 Increase my honor and comfort me again.

You have multiplied your magnificence. And so, turning back to me, you have consoled me.

22 I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God. I sing praises to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.

Therefore, I will confess your truth to you, with the instruments of the Psalter. O God, I will sing psalms to you with stringed instruments, O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips shall shout for joy! My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you!

My lips will exult, when I sing to you, and also my soul, which you have redeemed.

24 My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long, for they are disappointed, and they are confounded, who want to harm me.

And even my tongue will meditate on your justice all day long, when those who seek evils for me have been confounded and set in awe.