Psalms 31

¹ For the leader. A psalm of David.

² In you, LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice deliver me;

³ incline your ear to me; make haste to rescue me! Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to save me.

⁴ You are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead and guide me.

⁵ Free me from the net they have set for me, for you are my refuge.

⁶ Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, faithful God.

⁷ You hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD.

⁸ I will rejoice and be glad in your love, once you have seen my misery, observed my distress.

⁹ You will not abandon me into enemy hands, but will set my feet in a free and open space.

¹⁰ Be gracious to me, LORD, for I am in distress; with grief my eyes are wasted, my soul and body spent.

¹¹ My life is worn out by sorrow, my years by sighing. My strength fails in affliction; my bones are consumed.

¹² To all my foes I am a thing of scorn, to my neighbors, a dreaded sight, a horror to my friends. When they see me in the street, they quickly shy away.

¹³ I am forgotten, out of mind like the dead; I am like a shattered dish.

¹⁴ I hear the whispers of the crowd; terrors are all around me. They conspire against me; they plot to take my life.

¹⁵ But I trust in you, LORD; I say, "You are my God."

¹⁶ My times are in your hands; rescue me from my enemies, from the hands of my pursuers.

¹⁷ Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your kindness.

¹⁸ Do not let me be put to shame, for I have called to you, LORD. Put the wicked to shame; reduce them to silence in Sheol.

¹⁹ Strike dumb their lying lips, proud lips that attack the just in contempt and scorn.

²⁰ How great is your goodness, Lord, stored up for those who fear you. You display it for those who trust you, in the sight of all the people.

²¹ You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from scheming enemies. You keep them in your abode, safe from plotting tongues.

²² Blessed be the LORD, who has shown me wondrous love, and been for me a city most secure.

²³ Once I said in my anguish, "I am shut out from your sight." Yet you heard my plea, when I cried out to you.

²⁴ Love the LORD, all you faithful. The LORD protects the loyal, but repays the arrogant in full.

²⁵ Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.