Psalm 31

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

¹O Lord, I have come to you for protection;

don’t let me be disgraced.

Save me, for you do what is right.

²Turn your ear to listen to me;

rescue me quickly.

Be my rock of protection,

a fortress where I will be safe.

³You are my rock and my fortress.

For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.

⁴Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,

for I find protection in you alone.

⁵I entrust my spirit into your hand.

Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.

⁶I hate those who worship worthless idols.

I trust in the Lord.

⁷I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,

for you have seen my troubles,

and you care about the anguish of my soul.

⁸You have not handed me over to my enemies

but have set me in a safe place.

⁹Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress.

Tears blur my eyes.

My body and soul are withering away.

¹⁰I am dying from grief;

my years are shortened by sadness.

Sin has drained my strength;

I am wasting away from within.

¹¹I am scorned by all my enemies

and despised by my neighbors—

even my friends are afraid to come near me.

When they see me on the street,

they run the other way.

¹²I am ignored as if I were dead,

as if I were a broken pot.

¹³I have heard the many rumors about me,

and I am surrounded by terror.

My enemies conspire against me,

plotting to take my life.

¹⁴But I am trusting you, O Lord,

saying, “You are my God!”

¹⁵My future is in your hands.

Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.

¹⁶Let your favor shine on your servant.

In your unfailing love, rescue me.

¹⁷Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord,

for I call out to you for help.

Let the wicked be disgraced;

let them lie silent in the grave.^a

¹⁸Silence their lying lips—

those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.

¹⁹How great is the goodness

you have stored up for those who fear you.

You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,

blessing them before the watching world.

²⁰You hide them in the shelter of your presence,

safe from those who conspire against them.

You shelter them in your presence,

far from accusing tongues.

²¹Praise the Lord,

for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.

He kept me safe when my city was under attack.

²²In panic I cried out,

“I am cut off from the Lord!”

But you heard my cry for mercy

and answered my call for help.

²³Love the Lord, all you godly ones!

For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him,

but he harshly punishes the arrogant.

²⁴So be strong and courageous,

all you who put your hope in the Lord!