Psalm 31
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
1 In you,
LORD, I take refuge.
Let me never be disappointed.
Deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Bow down
your ear to me.
Deliver me speedily.
Be to me
a strong rock,
a house of defense
to save me.
3 For
you are my
rock and my
fortress,
therefore for
your name’s sake lead me
and guide me.
4 Pluck me out
of the net
that they have laid
secretly for me,
for you are
my stronghold.
5 Into
your hand I commend
my spirit.
You redeem me,
LORD, God of truth.
6 I hate those
who regard lying vanities,
but I trust in
the LORD.
7 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 shut me
up into the hand
of the enemy.
You have set
my feet in a large
place.
9 Have mercy
on me, LORD,
for I am in
distress.
My eye, my soul,
and my body waste away
with grief.
10 For
my life is spent
with sorrow,
my years with sighing.
My strength fails
because of
my iniquity.
My bones are
wasted away.
11 Because
of all
my adversaries I
have become utterly contemptible
to my neighbors,
a horror to
my acquaintances.
Those who saw me
on the street fled
from me.
12 I
am forgotten from
their hearts like
a dead man.
I am like broken
pottery.
13 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
I trust in you,
LORD.
I said, “You
are my God.”
15 My times
are in your hand.
Deliver me from
the hand of
my enemies, and
from those
who persecute me.
16 Make
your face to shine
on your servant.
Save me in
your loving kindness.
17 Let me
not be disappointed,
LORD, for I
have called on you.
Let the wicked be disappointed.
Let them be silent
in Sheol.
18 Let
the lying lips be mute,
which speak against
the righteous insolently, with pride
and contempt.
19 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 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 be
to the LORD,
for he has shown
me his marvelous loving kindness
in a strong city.
22 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 Oh love the
LORD, all you
his saints!
The LORD preserves
the faithful,
and fully recompenses him who
behaves arrogantly.
24 Be strong,
and let your heart
take courage,
all you who hope
in the LORD.