Psalms 71

1 A Psalm of David. Of the sons of Jonadab and the former captives. In you, O Lord, I have hoped; do not let me be brought to ruin forever.

By David, [a Psalm sung by] the sons of Jonadab, and the first that were taken captive. O Lord, I have hoped in you: let me never be put to shame.

2 Free me by your justice, and rescue me. Incline your ear to me, and save me.

In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me: incline your ear to me, and save me.

3 Be a God of protection and a place of strength for me, so that you may accomplish my salvation. For you are my firmament and my refuge.

Be to me a protecting God, and a strong hold to save me: for you are my fortress and my refuge.

4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the sinner, and from the hand of the unjust and those who act against the law.

Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the sinner, from the hand of the transgressor and unjust man.

5 For you, O Lord, are my patience: my hope from my youth, O Lord.

For you are my support, O Lord; O Lord, [you are] my hope from my youth.

6 In you, I have been confirmed from conception. From my mother’s womb, you are my protector. In you, I will sing forever.

On you have I been stayed from the womb: from the belly of my mother you are my protector: of you is my praise continually.

7 I have become to many as if I were a portent, but you are a strong helper.

I am become as it were a wonder to many: but you are [my] strong helper.

8 Let my mouth be filled with praise, so that I may sing your glory, your greatness all day long.

Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may hymn your glory, [and] your majesty all the day.

9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age. Do not abandon me when my strength will fail.

Cast me not off at the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength fails.

10 For my enemies have spoken against me. And those who watched for my soul have taken counsel as one,

For mine enemies have spoken against me; and they that lay wait for my soul have taken counsel together,

11 saying: “God has abandoned him. Pursue and overtake him. For there is no one to rescue him.”

saying, God has forsaken him: persecute you and take him; for there is none to deliver [him].

12 O God, do not be far from me. O my God, provide for my assistance.

O God, go not far from me, O my God, draw near to my help.

13 May they be confounded, and may they fail, who drag down my soul. Let them be covered with confusion and shame, who seek evils for me.

Let those that plot against my soul be ashamed and utterly fail: let those that seek my hurt be clothed with shame and dishonour.

14 But I will always have hope. And I will add more to all your praise.

But I will hope continually, and will praise you more and more.

15 My mouth will announce your justice, your salvation all day long. For I have not known letters.

My mouth shall declare your righteousness openly, [and] your salvation all the day; for I am not acquainted with the affairs [of men].

16 I will enter into the powers of the Lord. I will be mindful of your justice alone, O Lord.

I will go on in the might of the Lord: O Lord, I will make mention of your righteousness only.

17 You have taught me from my youth, O God. And so I will declare your wonders continuously,

O God, you have taught me from my youth, and until now will I declare your wonders;

18 even in old age and with grey hairs. Do not abandon me, O God, while I announce your arm to every future generation: your power

even until I am old and advanced in years. O God, forsake me not; until I shall have declared your arm to all the generation that is to come:

19 and your justice, O God, even to the highest great things that you have done. O God, who is like you?

even your power and your righteousness, O God, up to the highest [heavens, even] the mighty works which you has done: O God, who is like to you?

20 How great is the tribulation that you have revealed to me: very great and evil. And so, turning back, you have brought me to life, and you have led me back again from the abyss of the earth.

What afflictions many and sore have you showed me! yet you did turn and quicken me, and brought me again from the depths of the earth.

21 You have multiplied your magnificence. And so, turning back to me, you have consoled me.

You did multiply your righteousness, and did turn and comfort me, and brought me again out of the depths of the earth.

22 Therefore, I will confess your truth to you, with the instruments of the Psalter. O God, I will sing psalms to you with stringed instruments, O Holy One of Israel.

I will also therefore give thanks to you, O God, [because of] your truth, on an instrument of psalmody: I will sing psalms to you on the harp, O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips will exult, when I sing to you, and also my soul, which you have redeemed.

My lips shall rejoice when I sing to you; and my soul, which you have redeemed.

24 And even my tongue will meditate on your justice all day long, when those who seek evils for me have been confounded and set in awe.

Moreover also my tongue shall dwell all the day upon your righteousness; when they shall be ashamed and confounded that seek my hurt.