Psalms, 31

To the director. A melody of David.

¹ In you, O Jehovah,^*1 have I taken refuge. O may I never be ashamed. In your righteousness provide escape for me.

² Incline to me your ear. Deliver me speedily. Become for me a rocky stronghold, A house of strongholds to save me.

³ For you are my crag and my stronghold; And for the sake of your name you will lead me and conduct me.

⁴ You will bring me out of the net that they have hidden for me, For you are my fortress.

⁵ Into your hand I entrust my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Jehovah^*1 the God of truth.^*2

⁶ I do hate those paying regard to worthless, vain idols;^*1 But as for me, in Jehovah^*2 I do trust.

⁷ I will be joyful and rejoice in your loving-kindness,^*1 In that you have seen my affliction; You have known about the distresses of my soul,

⁸ And you have not surrendered me into the hand of the enemy. You have made my feet stand in a roomy place.

⁹ Show me favor, O Jehovah,^*1 for I am in sore straits. With vexation my eye has become weak, my soul and my belly.

¹⁰ For with grief my life has come to an end, And my years in sighing. Because of my error my power has stumbled, And my very bones have become weak.

¹¹ From the standpoint of all those showing hostility to me I have become a reproach, And to my neighbors very much so, And a dread to my acquaintances. When seeing me out of doors, they have fled from me.

¹² Like someone dead [and] not in the heart, I have been forgotten; I have become like a damaged^*1 vessel;

¹³ For I have heard the bad report by many, Fright being on all sides. When they mass together as one against me, It is to take away my soul^*1 that they do scheme.

¹⁴ But I—in you I have put my trust, O Jehovah. I have said: “You are my God.”^*1

¹⁵ My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those pursuing me.

¹⁶ Do cause your face to shine upon your servant. Save me in your loving-kindness.

¹⁷ O Jehovah, may I not be ashamed, for I have called on you. May the wicked ones be ashamed; May they keep silent in Sheʹol.

¹⁸ May false lips become speechless, That are speaking against the righteous one, unrestrainedly in haughtiness and contempt.

¹⁹ How abundant your goodness is, which you have treasured up for those fearing you! [Which] you have rendered to those taking refuge in you, In front of the sons of men.^*1

²⁰ You will conceal them in the secret place of your person^*1 From the banding together of men.^*2 You will hide them in your booth from the quarreling of tongues.

²¹ Blessed be Jehovah,^*1 For he has rendered wonderful loving-kindness to me in a city under stress.

²² As for me, I said when I became panicky: “I shall certainly be exterminated from in front of your eyes.” Surely you have heard the voice of my entreaties when I cried to you for help.

²³ O love Jehovah,^*1 all YOU loyal ones of his. The faithful ones Jehovah^*2 is safeguarding, But he is rewarding exceedingly anyone showing haughtiness.

²⁴ Be courageous, and may YOUR heart be strong, All YOU who are waiting for Jehovah.^*1