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For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

31 In you, Yahweh, I take refuge.
    Let me never be disappointed.
    Deliver me in your righteousness.
Bow down your ear to me.
    Deliver me speedily.
Be to me a strong rock,
    a house of defense to save me.
For you are my rock and my fortress,
    therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.
Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me,
    for you are my stronghold.
Into your hand I commend my spirit.
    You redeem me, Yahweh, God of truth.
I hate those who regard lying vanities,
    but I trust in Yahweh.
I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness,
    for you have seen my affliction.
    You have known my soul in adversities.
You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy.
    You have set my feet in a large place.
Have mercy on me, Yahweh, 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, Yahweh.
    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, Yahweh, for I have called on you.
    Let the wicked be disappointed.
    Let them be silent in Sheol.[a]
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 Yahweh,
    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 Yahweh, all you his saints!
    Yahweh preserves the faithful,
and fully recompenses him who behaves arrogantly.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
    all you who hope in Yahweh.

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Footnotes

  1. 31:17 Sheol is the place of the dead.

Psalm 31[a](A)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;(B)
    let me never be put to shame;
    deliver me in your righteousness.(C)
Turn your ear to me,(D)
    come quickly to my rescue;(E)
be my rock of refuge,(F)
    a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress,(G)
    for the sake of your name(H) lead and guide me.
Keep me free from the trap(I) that is set for me,
    for you are my refuge.(J)
Into your hands I commit my spirit;(K)
    deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.(L)

I hate those who cling to worthless idols;(M)
    as for me, I trust in the Lord.(N)
I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    for you saw my affliction(O)
    and knew the anguish(P) of my soul.
You have not given me into the hands(Q) of the enemy
    but have set my feet in a spacious place.(R)

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;(S)
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,(T)
    my soul and body(U) with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish(V)
    and my years by groaning;(W)
my strength fails(X) because of my affliction,[b](Y)
    and my bones grow weak.(Z)
11 Because of all my enemies,(AA)
    I am the utter contempt(AB) of my neighbors(AC)
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
    those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;(AD)
    I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,(AE)
    “Terror on every side!”(AF)
They conspire against me(AG)
    and plot to take my life.(AH)

14 But I trust(AI) in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times(AJ) are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine(AK) on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.(AL)
17 Let me not be put to shame,(AM) Lord,
    for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
    and be silent(AN) in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying lips(AO) be silenced,
    for with pride and contempt
    they speak arrogantly(AP) against the righteous.

19 How abundant are the good things(AQ)
    that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,(AR)
    on those who take refuge(AS) in you.
20 In the shelter(AT) of your presence you hide(AU) them
    from all human intrigues;(AV)
you keep them safe in your dwelling
    from accusing tongues.

21 Praise be to the Lord,(AW)
    for he showed me the wonders of his love(AX)
    when I was in a city under siege.(AY)
22 In my alarm(AZ) I said,
    “I am cut off(BA) from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry(BB) for mercy
    when I called to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!(BC)
    The Lord preserves those who are true to him,(BD)
    but the proud he pays back(BE) in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,(BF)
    all you who hope in the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 31:1 In Hebrew texts 31:1-24 is numbered 31:2-25.
  2. Psalm 31:10 Or guilt