Psalm 31

A David Psalm

1-2 I run to you, God; I run for dear life. Don't let me down! Take me seriously this time! Get down on my level and listen, and please—no procrastination! Your granite cave a hiding place, your high cliff aerie a place of safety.
3-5 You're my cave to hide in, my cliff to climb. Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide. Free me from hidden traps; I want to hide in you. I've put my life in your hands. You won't drop me, you'll never let me down.
6-13 I hate all this silly religion, but you, God, I trust. I'm leaping and singing in the circle of your love; you saw my pain, you disarmed my tormentors, You didn't leave me in their clutches but gave me room to breathe. Be kind to me, God— I'm in deep, deep trouble again. I've cried my eyes out; I feel hollow inside. My life leaks away, groan by groan; my years fade out in sighs. My troubles have worn me out, turned my bones to powder. To my enemies I'm a monster; I'm ridiculed by the neighbors. My friends are horrified; they cross the street to avoid me. They want to blot me from memory, forget me like a corpse in a grave, discard me like a broken dish in the trash. The street-talk gossip has me "criminally insane"! Behind locked doors they plot how to ruin me for good.
14-18 Desperate, I throw myself on you: you are my God! Hour by hour I place my days in your hand, safe from the hands out to get me. Warm me, your servant, with a smile; save me because you love me. Don't embarrass me by not showing up; I've given you plenty of notice. Embarrass the wicked, stand them up, leave them stupidly shaking their heads as they drift down to hell. Gag those loudmouthed liars who heckle me, your follower, with jeers and catcalls.
19-22 What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, Ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world. You hide them safely away from the opposition. As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces, you silence the poisonous gossip. Blessed God! His love is the wonder of the world. Trapped by a siege, I panicked. "Out of sight, out of mind," I said. But you heard me say it, you heard and listened.
23 Love God, all you saints; God takes care of all who stay close to him, But he pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone.
24 Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up. Expect God to get here soon.

Psalm 31

1 In thee, O Jehovah, do I take refuge; Let me never be put to shame: Deliver me in thy righteousness.

2 Bow down thine ear unto me; deliver me speedily: Be thou to me a strong rock, A house of defence to save me.

3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; Therefore for thy name’s sake lead me and guide me.

4 Pluck me out of the net that they have laid privily for me; For thou art my stronghold.

5 Into thy hand I commend my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O Jehovah, thou God of truth.

6 I hate them that regard lying vanities; But I trust in Jehovah.

7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy lovingkindness; For thou hast seen my affliction: Thou hast known my soul in adversities;

8 And thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; Thou hast set my feet in a large place.

9 Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah, for I am in distress: Mine eye wasteth away with grief, yea, my soul and my body.

10 For my life is spent with sorrow, And my years with sighing: My strength faileth because of mine iniquity, And my bones are wasted away.

11 Because of all mine adversaries I am become a reproach, Yea, unto my neighbors exceedingly, And a fear to mine acquaintance: They that did see me without fled from me.

12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.

13 For I have heard the defaming of many, Terror on every side: While they took counsel together against me, They devised to take away my life.

14 But I trusted in thee, O Jehovah: I said, Thou art my God.

15 My times are in thy hand: Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: Save me in thy lovingkindness.

17 Let me not be put to shame, O Jehovah; for I have called upon thee: Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol.

18 Let the lying lips be dumb, Which speak against the righteous insolently, With pride and contempt.

19 Oh how great is thy goodness, Which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, Which thou hast wrought for them that take refuge in thee, Before the sons of men!

20 In the covert of thy presence wilt thou hide them from the plottings of man: Thou wilt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be Jehovah; For he hath showed me his marvellous lovingkindness in a strong city.

22 As for me, I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: Nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications When I cried unto thee.

23 Oh love Jehovah, all ye his saints: Jehovah preserveth the faithful, And plentifully rewardeth him that dealeth proudly.

24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, All ye that hope in Jehovah.