Psalm 31
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1Lord, I have come to you for safety.
Don’t let me ever be put to shame.
Save me, because you do what is right.
2Pay attention to me.
Come quickly to help me.
Be the rock I go to for safety.
Be the strong fort that saves me.
3You are my rock and my fort.
Lead me and guide me for the honor of your name.
4Keep me free from the trap that is set for me.
You are my place of safety.
5Into your hands I commit my very life.
Lord, set me free. You are my faithful God.
6I hate those who worship worthless statues of gods.
But I trust in the Lord.
7I will be glad and full of joy because you love me.
You saw that I was hurting.
You took note of my great pain.
8You have not handed me over to the enemy.
You have put me in a wide and safe place.
9Lord, have mercy on me. I’m in deep trouble.
I’m so sad I can hardly see.
My whole body grows weak with sadness.
10Pain has taken over my life.
My years are spent in groaning.
I have no strength because I’m hurting so much.
My body is getting weaker and weaker.
11My neighbors make fun of me
because I have so many enemies.
My closest friends are afraid of me.
People who see me on the street run away from me.
12No one remembers me. I might as well be dead.
I have become like broken pottery.
13I hear many people whispering,
“There is terror all around him!”
Many have joined together against me.
They plan to kill me.
14But I trust in you, Lord.
I say, “You are my God.”
15My whole life is in your hands.
Save me from the hands of my enemies.
Save me from those who are chasing me.
16May you look on me with favor.
Save me because your love is faithful.
17Lord, I have cried out to you.
Don’t let me be put to shame.
But let sinners be put to shame.
Let them lie silent in the place of the dead.
18Their lips tell lies. Let them be silenced.
They speak with pride against those who do right.
They make fun of them.
19You have stored up so many good things.
You have stored them up for those who have respect for you.
You give those things while everyone watches.
You give them to people who run to you for safety.
20They are safe because you are with them.
You hide them from the evil plans of their enemies.
In your house you keep them safe
from those who bring charges against them.
21Give praise to the Lord.
He showed me his wonderful love
when my enemies attacked the city I was in.
22I was afraid and said,
“I’ve been cut off from you!”
But you heard my cry for your favor.
You heard me when I called out to you for help.
23Love the Lord, all you who are faithful to him!
The Lord keeps safe those who are faithful to him.
But he completely pays back those who are proud.
24Be strong, all you who put your hope in the Lord.
Never give up.
Psalm 31In Hebrew texts 31:1-24 is numbered 31:2-25.
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
3Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.
5Into your hands I commit my spirit;
deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.
6I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
as for me, I trust in the Lord.
7I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguish of my soul.
8You have not given me into the hands of the enemy
but have set my feet in a spacious place.
9Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and body with grief.
10My life is consumed by anguish
and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,31:10 Or guilt
and my bones grow weak.
11Because of all my enemies,
I am the utter contempt of my neighbors
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
those who see me on the street flee from me.
12I am forgotten as though I were dead;
I have become like broken pottery.
13For I hear many whispering,
“Terror on every side!”
They conspire against me
and plot to take my life.
14But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
16Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
17Let me not be put to shame, Lord,
for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
and be silent in the realm of the dead.
18Let their lying lips be silenced,
for with pride and contempt
they speak arrogantly against the righteous.
19How abundant are the good things
that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.
20In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from all human intrigues;
you keep them safe in your dwelling
from accusing tongues.
21Praise be to the Lord,
for he showed me the wonders of his love
when I was in a city under siege.
22In my alarm I said,
“I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.
23Love the Lord, all his faithful people!
The Lord preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.
