Psalms 31

₁I come to you, LORD, for protection;

never let me be defeated.

You are a righteous God;

save me, I pray!

₂Hear me! Save me now!

Be my refuge to protect me;

my defence to save me.

₃You are my refuge and defence;

guide me and lead me as you have promised.

₄Keep me safe from the trap that has been set for me;

shelter me from danger.

₅I place myself in your care.

You will save me, LORD;

you are a faithful God.

₆You hate those who worship false gods,

but I trust in you.

₇I will be glad and rejoice

because of your constant love.

You see my suffering;

you know my trouble.

₈You have not let my enemies capture me;

you have given me freedom to go where I wish.

₉Be merciful to me, LORD,

for I am in trouble;

my eyes are tired from so much crying;

I am completely worn out.

₁₀I am exhausted by sorrow,

and weeping has shortened my life.

I am weak from all my troubles;

even my bones are wasting away.

₁₁All my enemies, and especially my neighbours,

treat me with contempt;

those who know me are afraid of me;

when they see me in the street, they run away.

₁₂Everyone has forgotten me, as though I were dead;

I am like something thrown away.

₁₃I hear many enemies whispering;

terror is all round me.

They are making plans against me,

plotting to kill me.

₁₄But my trust is in you, O LORD;

you are my God.

₁₅I am always in your care;

save me from my enemies,

from those who persecute me.

₁₆Look on your servant with kindness;

save me in your constant love.

₁₇I call to you, LORD;

don't let me be disgraced.

May the wicked be disgraced;

may they go silently down to the world of the dead.

₁₈Silence those liars —

all the proud and arrogant

who speak with contempt about the righteous.

₁₉How wonderful are the good things

you keep for those who honour you!

Everyone knows how good you are,

how securely you protect those who trust you.

₂₀You hide them in the safety of your presence

from the plots of others;

in a safe shelter you hide them

from the insults of their enemies.

₂₁Praise the LORD!

How wonderfully he showed his love for me

when I was surrounded and attacked!

₂₂I was afraid and thought

that he had driven me out of his presence.

But he heard my cry,

when I called to him for help.

₂₃Love the LORD, all his faithful people.

The LORD protects the faithful,

but punishes the proud as they deserve.

₂₄Be strong, be courageous,

all you that hope in the LORD.