Psalm 31A Plea for Protection

1. Lord, I seek refuge in you;
let me never be disgraced.
Save me by your righteousness.

2. Listen closely to me; 
rescue me quickly.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a mountain fortress to save me.

3. For you are my rock and my fortress;
you lead and guide me
for your name's sake.

4. You will free me from the net
that is secretly set for me,
for you are my refuge.

5. Into your hand I entrust my spirit;
you have redeemed me, Lord, God of truth.

6. I hate those who are devoted to worthless idols,
but 
I trust in the Lord.

7. I will rejoice and be glad in your faithful love
because you have seen my affliction.
You know the troubles of my soul

8. and have not handed me over to the enemy.
You have set my feet in a spacious place.

9. Be gracious to me, Lord,
because I am in distress;
my eyes are worn out from frustration--
my whole being as well.

10. Indeed, my life is consumed with grief
and my years with groaning;
my strength has failed
because of my iniquity,
and my bones waste away.

11. I am ridiculed by all my adversaries
and even by my neighbors.
I am dreaded by my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street run from me.

12. I am forgotten: gone from memory
like a dead person--like broken pottery.

13. I have heard the gossip of many;
terror is on every side.
When they conspired against me,
they plotted to take my life.

14. But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, "You are my God."

15. The course of my life is in your power;
rescue me from the power of my enemies
and from my persecutors.

16. Make your face shine on your servant;
save me by your faithful love.

17. Lord, do not let me be disgraced when I call on you.

Let the wicked be disgraced;
let them be quiet in Sheol.

18. Let lying lips
that arrogantly speak against the righteous
in proud contempt be silenced.

19. How great is your goodness,
which 
you have stored up for those who fear you.
In the presence of everyone you have acted
for those who take refuge in you.

20. You hide them in the protection of your presence;
you conceal them in a shelter
from human schemes,
from quarrelsome tongues.

21. Blessed be the Lord,
for he has wondrously shown his faithful love to me
in a city under siege.

22. In my alarm I said,
"I am cut off from your sight."
But you heard the sound of my pleading
when I cried to you for help.

23. Love the Lord, all his faithful ones.

The Lord protects the loyal,
but fully repays the arrogant.

24. Be strong, and let your heart be courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord.




