Psalms 31
1IN Thee, O Lord, I have trusted. Let me never be put to shame. In Thy saving mercy rescue me and deliver me—
2Incline Thine ear to me! haste to deliver me. Be Thou to me a protecting God—a house of refuge to save me.
3Because Thou art my strength and my refuge; Thou therefore, for Thy name’s sake, wilt guide and nourish me:
4Thou wilt extricate me from this snare, which they have privily laid for me. Because Thou, O Lord, art my protector;
5into Thy hands I will commit my spirit. Thou, O Lord the God of truth hast redeemed me.
6Thou hatedst them who fruitlessly regard vanities; but I have trusted in the Lord.
7I will exult with joy and rejoice in Thy mercy: because Thou hast looked on my humiliation—hast delivered my soul from these distresses—
8hast not shut me up into an enemy’s hand—hast set my feet in a roomy place.
9Pity me, O Lord, for I am afflicted: with indignation mine eye was troubled—my soul and all within me.
10Because my life was spent with grief, and my years with sighing—with affliction my strength was exhausted and my bones were troubled;
11among all mine enemies I became a reproach; and to my neighbours especially, and to my acquaintance, a terror. They who saw me abroad fled from me;
12like a dead man out of mind I was quite forgotten: I became like a broken vessel.
13Because I heard the whispers of many who dwell around me; when they assembled together against me they consulted how to take my life;
14but as for me, I put my trust in Thee, O Lord; I said, Thou art my God;
15in Thy hands are my lots; deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them who are persecuting me.
16Let Thy face shine upon Thy servant: save me for Thy mercy’s sake.
17O Lord, let me not be shamed, because I have invoked Thee. Let the wicked be shamed and driven down to the mansion of the dead.
18Let those deceitful lips become speechless, which speak injustice against the righteous with pride and contempt.
19How great, O Lord, is the abundance of Thy kindness, which Thou hast laid up in store for them who fear Thee—hast provided for them who trust in Thee before the sons of men.
20In the secret of Thy presence Thou wilt hide them from the trouble of men; Thou wilt shelter them in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
21Blessed be the Lord, because He hath marvellously displayed His mercy in a city besieged.
22As for me, on my surprisal I said, I am cast far from Thy presence; therefore Thou, O Lord, didst hear the voice of my supplication when I cried to Thee.
23O love the Lord, all ye His saints, for the Lord searcheth out truth, and retributeth largely to the insolent.
24Take courage and let your hearts be strong, all ye whose trust is in the Lord.