Psalm 31
A Plea for Protection
For the choir director. A psalm of David.
1 LORD, I seek refuge in you;
let me never be disgraced. q
Save me by your righteousness.
2 Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a mountain fortress to save me. r
3 For you are my rock and my fortress; s
you lead and guide me
for your name’s sake. t
4 You will free me from the net
that is secretly set for me,
for you are my refuge. u
5 Into your hand I entrust my spirit; v
you have redeemed me, T LORD, God of truth. w
6 I U hate those who are devoted to worthless idols,
but I trust in the LORD. x
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your faithful love
because you have seen my affliction.
You know the troubles of my soul y
8 and have not handed me over to the enemy. z
You have set my feet in a spacious place. a
because I am in distress; b
my eyes are worn out from frustration—
10 Indeed, my life is consumed with grief
and my years with groaning; d
my strength has failed
because of my iniquity, W
and my bones waste away. e
11 I am ridiculed by all my adversaries
and even by my neighbors.
I am dreaded by my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street run from me. f
12 I am forgotten: gone from memory
like a dead person—like broken pottery. g
13 I have heard the gossip of many;
terror is on every side. h
When they conspired against me,
they plotted to take my life. i
I say, “You are my God.” j
15 The course of my life is in your power; k
rescue me from the power of my enemies
and from my persecutors. l
16 Make your face shine on your servant; m
save me by your faithful love. n
17 LORD, do not let me be disgraced when I call on you. o
Let the wicked be disgraced;
let them be quiet X,Y in Sheol. p
18 Let lying lips q
that arrogantly speak against the righteous
in proud contempt be silenced. r
that you have stored up for those who fear you
and accomplished in the sight of everyone Z
for those who take refuge in you. s
20 You hide them in the protection of your presence;
you conceal them in a shelter
from human schemes,
from quarrelsome tongues. t
for he has wondrously shown his faithful love to me
in a city under siege. u
“I am cut off from your sight.” v
But you heard the sound of my pleading
when I cried to you for help. w
23 Love the LORD, all his faithful ones. x
The LORD protects the loyal,
but fully repays the arrogant. y
24 Be strong, and let your heart be courageous,
all you who put your hope in the LORD. z