Psalms 71

1 In you, O Lord, I take refuge, let me never be put to shame.

In you, O Lord, have I put my hope; let me never be shamed.

2 In your faithfulness save me and rescue me, bend your ear to me and save me.

Keep me safe in your righteousness, and come to my help; give ear to my voice, and be my saviour.

3 Be to me a rock of defence, a fortified house, to save me; for my rock and my fortress are you.

Be my strong Rock, the strong place of my salvation; for you are my Rock, and my safe place.

4 Save me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.

O my God, take me out of the hand of the sinner, out of the hand of the evil and cruel man.

5 For you, Lord, are my hope, in whom from my youth I have trusted.

For you are my hope, O Lord God; I have had faith in you from the time when I was young.

6 On you have I leaned from my birth; from my mother’s womb it was you who did draw me. In you is my hope evermore.

You have been my support from the day of my birth; you took me out of my mother's body; my praise will be ever of you.

7 I have been as a wonder to many, for you are my refuge and strength.

I am a wonder to all; but you are my strong tower.

8 All the day long my mouth is filled with your praise and your glory.

My mouth will be full of your praise and glory all the day.

9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; when my strength is spent, forsake me not.

Do not give me up when I am old; be my help even when my strength is gone.

10 For my foes whisper against me, they who watch me take counsel together;

For my haters are waiting secretly for me; and those who are watching for my soul are banded together in their evil designs,

11 “God has left him,” they say: “pursue and seize him, for he is helpless.”

Saying, God has given him up; go after him and take him, for he has no helper.

12 O God, be not far from me, haste, O my God, to my help.

O God, be not far from me; O my God, come quickly to my help.

13 Put my foes to shame and dishonor, with insult and shame be they covered.

Let those who say evil against my soul be overcome and put to shame; let my haters be made low and have no honour.

14 But I will never stop hoping, and more and yet more will I praise you.

But I will go on ever hoping, and increasing in all your praise.

15 All the day long shall my mouth tell your faithfulness and your salvation, though I know not how they may be counted.

My mouth will make clear your righteousness and your salvation all the day; for they are more than may be measured.

16 I will tell of the might of the Lord, and your faithfulness praise, you alone.

I will give news of the great acts of the Lord God; my words will be of your righteousness, and of yours only.

17 You have taught me, O God, from my youth, and till now have I told of your wonders.

O God, you have been my teacher from the time when I was young; and I have been talking of your works of wonder even till now.

18 Even in old age and grey hair, O God, do not forsake me. Still would I tell of your might unto all generations to come.

Now when I am old and grey-headed, O God, give me not up; till I have made clear your strength to this generation, and your power to all those to come.

19 Your power and your justice, O God, extend as far as the heavens: for great are the things you have done. Who is like you, O God?

Your righteousness, O God, is very high; you have done great things; O God, who is like you?

20 You have caused us to see troubles many, but you will revive us again. From the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.

You, who have sent great and bitter troubles on me, will give me life again, lifting me up from the deep waters of the underworld.

21 You will multiply my greatness, and comfort me again.

You will make me greater than before, and give me comfort on every side.

22 So with harp I will praise you, and your faithfulness, O my God; and make music to you on the lyre, O you Holy One of Israel.

I will give praise to you with instruments of music, O my God, for you are true; I will make songs to you with music, O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips shall ring out their joy, my mouth shall sing praises to you; all of me, which you have redeemed.

Joy will be on my lips when I make melody to you; and in my soul, to which you have given salvation.

24 Yes, all the day long shall my tongue utter your righteousness; for ashamed and confounded are they who were seeking my hurt.

My tongue will be talking of your righteousness all the day; for those whose purpose is to do me evil have been crushed and put to shame.