Psalm 31

¹In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;

do not let me ever be put to shame;

in your righteousness deliver me.

²Incline your ear to me;

rescue me speedily.

Be a rock of refuge for me,

a strong fortress to save me.

³You are indeed my rock and my fortress;

for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,

⁴take me out of the net that is hidden for me,

for you are my refuge.

⁵Into your hand I commit my spirit;

you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

⁶You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,

but I trust in the Lord.

⁷I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love,

because you have seen my affliction;

you have taken heed of my adversities,

⁸and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;

you have set my feet in a broad place.

⁹Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;

my eye wastes away from grief,

my soul and body also.

¹⁰For my life is spent with sorrow,

and my years with sighing;

my strength fails because of my misery,

and my bones waste away.

¹¹I am the scorn of all my adversaries,

a horror to my neighbors,

an object of dread to my acquaintances;

those who see me in the street flee from me.

¹²I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;

I have become like a broken vessel.

¹³For I hear the whispering of many—

terror all around!—

as they scheme together against me,

as they plot to take my life.

¹⁴But I trust in you, O Lord;

I say, “You are my God.”

¹⁵My times are in your hand;

deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.

¹⁶Let your face shine upon your servant;

save me in your steadfast love.

¹⁷Do not let me be put to shame, O Lord,

for I call on you;

let the wicked be put to shame;

let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.

¹⁸Let the lying lips be stilled

that speak insolently against the righteous

with pride and contempt.

¹⁹O how abundant is your goodness

that you have laid up for those who fear you,

and accomplished for those who take refuge in you,

in the sight of everyone!

²⁰In the shelter of your presence you hide them

from human plots;

you hold them safe under your shelter

from contentious tongues.

²¹Blessed be the Lord,

for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me

when I was beset as a city under siege.

²²I had said in my alarm,

“I am driven far from your sight.”

But you heard my supplications

when I cried out to you for help.

²³Love the Lord, all you his saints.

The Lord preserves the faithful,

but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.

²⁴Be strong, and let your heart take courage,

all you who wait for the Lord.