Psalm 31

₁In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;

let me never be put to shame;

in your righteousness deliver me!

₂Incline your ear to me;

rescue me speedily!

Be a rock of refuge for me,

a strong fortress to save me!

₃For you are my rock and my fortress;

and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;

₄you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,

for you are my refuge.

₅Into your hand I commit my spirit;

you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

₆I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,

but I trust in the Lord.

₇I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,

because you have seen my affliction;

you have known the distress of my soul,

₈and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;

you have set my feet in a broad place.

₉Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;

my eye is wasted from grief;

my soul and my body also.

₁₀For my life is spent with sorrow,

and my years with sighing;

my strength fails because of my iniquity,

and my bones waste away.

₁₁Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,

especially to my neighbors,

and an object of dread to my acquaintances;

those who see me in the street flee from me.

₁₂I have been forgotten like one who is dead;

I have become like a broken vessel.

₁₃For I hear the whispering of many—

terror on every side!—

as they scheme together against me,

as they plot to take my life.

₁₄But I trust in you, O Lord;

I say, “You are my God.”

₁₅My times are in your hand;

rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!

₁₆Make your face shine on your servant;

save me in your steadfast love!

₁₇O Lord, let me not be put to shame,

for I call upon you;

let the wicked be put to shame;

let them go silently to Sheol.

₁₈Let the lying lips be mute,

which speak insolently against the righteous

in pride and contempt.

₁₉Oh, how abundant is your goodness,

which you have stored up for those who fear you

and worked for those who take refuge in you,

in the sight of the children of mankind!

₂₀In the cover of your presence you hide them

from the plots of men;

you store them in your shelter

from the strife of tongues.

₂₁Blessed be the Lord,

for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me

when I was in a besieged city.

₂₂I had said in my alarm,

“I am cut off from your sight.”

But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy

when I cried to you for help.

₂₃Love the Lord, all you his saints!

The Lord preserves the faithful

but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.

₂₄Be strong, and let your heart take courage,

all you who wait for the Lord!